The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1914-08-28
JAPAN ISSUES WAR DECREE
Kaiser's Disregard of Ultimatum Brings Immediate
Action at Expiration of Time Limit -Mikado
Issues Order for Land and Sea Attack
on Observation-Disclosures
of Fortress Begins.

Toxic, Aug. 25.-The bombardment
of Tsing-Tau, the fortified seaport OF
Kiau-C hau, the German possession in
China which Japan has demanded Ger
many give up, has begun. In addition
to the Japanese war vessels, British,
French and Russian ships are taking
part in the blockade of the port.
Toxic, Aug. 24.-The imperial re-
script declaring war upon Germany
was issued Sunday night. 1t officially
inaugurates hostilities in the far
east as a result of Germany's fail
ure to reply to the Japanese ultl-
matum. The text of the proclama-
ton was made public simultaneous
1y in Toxic, Washington and Lon
don.
The japanese government immedi-
ately ordered the beginning of opera
tons on land and sea, handed to the
German ambassador his passports,
and notified the powers that state
of war existed between Japan and
Germany.
German Garrison Is Prepared
Official japanese circles estimate
that three months will be required to
reduce Using Tau, the fertilization at
Kiau Chau. The German garrison
is reported to be fully provisioned
for a siege enduring eight months.
Count Won Rex, the German am
bassador, probably will leave for
America, either on the Minnesota,
sailing Aug. 81, or the Manchuria,
which departs on the 10Th. Georg, w.
Guthrie, the American ambassador,
will represent Germany.
Austria Avoids War.
Austria has avoided war with Japan
by agreeing to dismantle the cruiser
Kaiserin Elizabeth, now at Tsing-Tau.
Owing to the strained relations, the
Austrian ambassador had been prepar-
ing to leave Toxic but when his gov
eminent agreed to the dismantling of
the cruiser he let it be known he saw
no occasion to quit his post.
An imperial ordinance gives Ger
man merchantmen until Sept to
discharge their cargoes and sail away
safely under the protection of a pass
port.
Text of Declaration.
Following is the text of Japan's
declaration of war on Germany:
'The imperial rescript:
Issued at Toxic, Aug. %, 6 p. m.
eve, by the grace of heaven, en-
peror of Japan, seated on the throne
occupied by the same dynasty from
time immemorial, do hereby make
the following proclamation to all our
loyal and brave subjects:
I'VE hereby declare war against
Germany, and we command our army
and navy to carry on hostilities
against that empire with all their
strength and we also command all
our competent authorities to make
every effort in pursuance of their
respective duties to attain the ma
tional aim by all means within the
limits of the law of nations
"Since the outbreak of the pres
ent war in Europe, the calamitous
"
concern, We on our part have enter
tanned hopes of preserving the peace
OF the far east by the maintenance
OF the strictest neutrality, but the
action of Germany has at length com.
PEELED Great Britain, our ally, to open
hostilities against that country AND
Germany is at Kiau Chau, it's leased
territory in China. busy with warlike
preparations, while it's armed yes
sells, cruising the seas of eastern
Asia, are threatening our commerce
and that OF our ally. Peace of the
far east is thus in Jeopardy.
Accordingly, our government ant
that of his Brittanic majesty, after
full and frank communication with
each other, agreed to take such meas
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