Evening star., 1914-08-17

q naval character. 1t is the belief of
Japanese strategists that Germany
would withdraw her ships within the
harbor, mine the entrance against ap-
proach. and then depend on the garri-
son and the strength of the fortress to
protect 1t against a movement from the
land SIDE
The Japanese fleet. It IL expected,
would station itself at the entrance
to the harbor. much as 1t did at Port
there. and that military forces would
be brought from Japan to lay siege 60
the fortress from the land side.
Menace to Japan.
From the Japanese standpoint Kiaus
Chau's chief menace to Japan is that
1t lies directly opposite Korea. the
great field Of Japanese colonial de-
velopment, and also just across the
sea from the southerly Japanese is
lands
Explaining the political effect Of Ger
many's occupation of Kiau-Chau. n
said the issue presented today had its
origin in the events OF the Japan-China
war. At that time he said, Japan had
succeeded in taking Port Arthur from
China after memorable contest. At
this point. however, he said. Germapy
took the lead among a group of Eu-
ropean powers in demanding that
Japan should not retain the fruits OF
Yielding to this pressure. Japan had re-
linquished the prize Shortly after this
e. German fleet occupied Kiau-Chau.
claiming 1t as an indemnity for al
Since then. Kiau-Chau has been stead
lily developed. until now with its for.
treee. Its hinterland and its outlying
sections In Shantung province IL repre-
'ss seotspsd o view most
ance.
Meantime. Russia ia no longer at
Port Arthur. and England has given
up her naval establishment at Wei
Hei-Wei. So. It Is pointed out, Ger
many remains practically alone among
the European powers In north China,
with Kiau-Chau in commanding
position at the entrance to the China
sea-.
China has long sought to have this
territory restored. thus re-establishing
her territorial integrity in north China.
Japan's Policy.
Japan's constant avowed policy has
been to secure the return of Kiau-
Chau to China, and it is now declared
In authoritative Japanese quarters
that Japan has no territorial aspirs-
tions whatever as to Kiau-Chau; that
her sole purpose in securing its resto-
ration to China is to preserve the terri
torial integrity of China, and at the
same time to remove the menace TO
peace caused by the presence OF re-
mote alien power in q powerful strong
hold on the China sea-
The Angio-Japanese alliance is said
TO have been the decisive factor in
bringing about the present step by
Japan. This alliance was originally
made in 1909, was offensive and de-
fensive in character. and was confined
to events occurring in the far east.
Later. the alliance was enlarged so
as to take in events occurring In India,
where the mutual interests Of Japan
and Great Britain were involved.
On July IS. 1901. the alliance was ex-
enlarged. One important addition. af-
fecting the United States was in arti-
Gle 4. which provided that neither OF
the contracting parties was obliged to
20 to war with q power with whom
treaty of arbitration was in force.
As the United States has treaties OF
general arbitration, both with Great
Britain and with Japan, this new art
operation Of the Anglo-Japanese ALI.
ance.
Germany's Resources.
Germany's resources in the far east are
confined In the main to the 5000 men in
the garrison at Kiau-Chau. These have
recently been augmented by all the Ger
man troops usually kept In and near
Picking and Tientsin for the purpose, un-
der international agreement with other
powers. for the purpose of maintaining
open communication with the seaboard.
This latter German force consists Of
seventeen officers and 443 men. all nf
whom have now been concentrated with
the main force at Kiau-Chau.
Japan's resources are far greater. AZ
her warships and armies are all con-
centrated In the orient. Japan's naval
stations In southern Korea are within
860 miles OF Kiau-Chau, and the chief
naval depots. arsenals and naval and
military bases In Japan are within 800
miles Of kiau-Chau. It IL hardly more
than q days sail for the feet. and trans
ports conveyed by warships could make
the passage in three or four days from
the time OF concentration ana efnbarka-
tion at Japanese ports.
There are about / 200 United States ma
rines and infantrymen stationed at Pc
king. Maj. Dion williams commands the
S35 marines. and the infantrymen are
under Col John c. Tillson.
There are 1l0 savings banks in New