The Washington herald., 1914-08-24
KIAOCHOW Under
FIRE FROM FLEET
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

man minister and the Chinese foreign
office had about reached an agreement
which was ready to be put in writing. re-
garding Tsingtau. the seat Of government
OF Kiaochow. when Japan's decision and
declaration was announced. The Chinese
foreign once Immediately called on the
negotiations.
The same dispatch quoted the President
Yuan Shikai as being satisfied with ia
pans attitude and the pledges Il had
made regarding the return OF Kiaochow
to China to restore Chinese, integrity.
The announcement OF President Wilson
| regarding American neutrality has met
with the approval Of the japanese.
Seeks L. 8. FrIendship.
The opinion is general that whatevei
suspicious Americans have had of JR-
pans motive in delivering the ultimatum
will soon be wiped away with the growth
OF the understanding Of her position.
Saburo Shimada, q member OF parli-
ment and a member Of the party opposed
to war. today declared that Japan. he
believed firmly. had no desire to retain
control Of Kiaochow and that her entry
into the war simply was for the purpose
Of preventing any effect OF IL on the
China situation.
He cited the fact that the retention of
the leased German territory from which
II is trying to drive Germany probably
would mean a revolution In China and
would incur the ill-wiI OF America, a
thing Japan feverently wished to avoid.
That Germany has been trying to
transfer the German railroad in Shan
tung. China, 70 American interests is cur
rently reported here, but the japanese
are confident that the American govern
ment will intervene to prevent this.
Every passenger communication be-
tween Tikra and European Russia Is re-
ported open in dispatches received here
from Hardin.
A number Of German residents who
escaped when a body OF them were cap
tured and imprisoned at Irkutsk. Siberia.
are reported to have fed into China
disguised as Chinese.
The German residents of Mukden.
Chang -Chun and Dalny. Manchuria. are
being expelled.
Japan is preparing to order the eKpul-
sion Of all German residents OF Tientsin.
despite the fact that tf1is city Is on Chi
nese soil and subject to the administra-
tion OF the Chinese government.
All Germans in that part OF the Orient
subject TO Japanese influence are under
surveillance.
Japan has a powerful feet in the Vel
low Sea. and Is prepared TO land an army
OF nearly, 5000 men in Shantung PENN
sula.
VIII Fight to End.
It is expected the German forces in
Kiaochaw will make a stout resistance.
The forts are new and strong. and equip
ped with powerful guns. The command
er has been ordered TO resist to the last.
Copies Of Japan's declaration OF war
and the reasons for II were telegraphed
to the foreign governments.
OWN Do the Rest We Cnn."
Comment was excited In diplomatic
circles here by the wording of the jap
anese proclama tion, cleverly designed to
show that Japan is reluctantly entering
upon war for the preservation Of peace
in the Orient
So certain we're administration officials
that Germany would not reply to Japan's
and that Japan would declare
war that little interest was stirred by
the actual declaration OF hostilities. Sec
retary Bryan was absent from Washing
ton, and Japan's proclamation was hand
ID to Acting Secretary of State Lansing
by Baron ChInda, the Japanese Ambas-
sador
Charge Won Haimhausen. of the Ger |
man Embassy. was undisturbed by the
news IldI u blAln "OTlu pOHCI ldd DCCh I
added TO the nations arrayed against |
Germany.
I'VE will have to do the best we can."
he said.
The German Embassy at Tokyo will be |
cared for by American Ambassador |
Guthrie. while a like service for Japan |
will be performed by Ambassador Gerard, |
At Berlin.
At War With Six Nations.
With Japan's declaration. Germany is
now at war with six nations. These are |
England. France. Belgium, Japan and |
Austria, Germany's ally. Is |
It war with Russia, France, England, |
and Servia, and on the verge !
If a final break with Italy.
The position OF the United States with |
eference to the war developments in the
Far East already has been made clear
n communications to both China and
Japan. The United States expects that
Japan will not disturb the integrity of
nina, close the "open door" or retain
Iiaochow. II wrested from Germany.
The pledge of Japan to restore Kiao-
how to China is expected to be carried
lut. and the President has no doubt that
Tapan's assurances that China's terri
orial integrity will not be molested, and
ire made in absolute sincerity.
VIII Not Seize Islands.
Acting Secretary Lansing said yester-
ay that the United States would issue a
Of neutrality in the war be-
ween Japan and Germany, and that the
interest Of this government in the strug-
le would be ended with tbis proclama-
ION. Informal assurances as to Japan's
Intentions to limit her activities to the
aking Of Kiaochow and its restoration
o China have been given the United
tates by Great Britain. There Is no ap-
rehension that Japan will seize the Ger
nan possessions in the Samoan Islands
r take the other German islands in the
'acific. 1t is expected that the German
arrison at Kiaochow will resist desper-
tely the Japanese attack in the hope
hat the fertilization can be held until
Germany can deliver a decisive defeat i
D the allies in Europe. Il
Charge Won Haimhausen said that he
ad not received any communication
rom Germany on the Japanese ultima |
I'm, but that he understood Germany
It the issue come without reply to
apan. II