Gilpin observer., 1914-08-27
KAISER IGNORES
JAP ULTIMATUM
FORMAL DECLARATION OF WAR
DECLARED ON GERMANY
BY MIkADo.
CHINA PORT BLOCkADED
ENGLISH, FRENCH, JAPANESE
AND RUSSIAN SHIPS ATTACK
GERMANY IN ORIENT.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Peking, Aug. 25-The blockade Of
Tsing-Tau. the fortified port of the
German possession of Kiao-Chow, has
begun. British, French and Russian
vessels of war are taking part with
the Japanese in the movement
The Germans have dynamited all
the tall structures here which might
be of any assistance to an attacking
fleet in giving them sighting points.
They have also destroyed the railroad
bridge at the boundary of their leased
territory and they have razed the
Chinese villages within the territory.
The inhabitants of these villages have
been partially compensated.
Up to the present time only British
regiments have received orders to CO.
operate with the Japanese in the oper-
ations against Kiao-Chow on the land
side. The French. however. are ex-
pecting orders to assist the British.
There probably will not be more than
two or three regiments from each
nation.
No reliable information has reached
here yet as to any Japanese landing
on the kfaO-Chow territory.
From Toxic comes the report that
unanimous approval of the war which
is calmly and dispassionately dis.
cussed. summarizes public opinion.
The newspapers express regret over
the necessity Of hostilities with Ger
many and urge the public to refrain
from exhibiting resentment toward the
Germans in Japan.
The Japanese print messages to
cheer the fighters in their army and
navy, who hope they will be quickly
victorious. An imperial messenger
went to the shrines of Ise to inform
the spirits of the imperial ancestors %
Japan's declaration of war.
It is announced that flock of white
doves descended on the roof of the i'm
perial sanctuary at the moment of tho
expiration of the ultimatum to Ger
many, and this is accepted as an omen
Of speedy victory.
Toxic, Aug. 24.-Germany having
failed to reply within the time limit
to Japan's ultimatum that she surren
der Kiao-Chow, the Japanese govern
AhCht Ndhduy oIueTtu Tie Dt-
ginning of operations on land and sea.
The time limit on the ultimatum ex.
pired at noon.
The imperial rescript declaring war
upon Germany was issued last even
ing. 1t officially inaugurates hostil
tiles in the Far East as a result OF
Germany's failure to reply to the ia
pan ultimatum.
Cheering crowds assembled before
the buildings occupied by the depart
ment of foreign affairs and the ad
ministration of the navy.
Count Won Rex, the German ambas.
sador, has been handed his passports.
He probably will leave for America
either on the Minnesota, sailing Aug
27, or the Manchuria, which departs
Aug. 30. George w. Gutherie. the
American ambassador. will represent
Germany. The diet has been called
in special session for Sept. ..
No action yet has been taken rela.
tive to Austria, and the foreign Of
flee has explained that Japan will re
main friendly unless Austria adopts
an attitude which It regards as
offensive.
Premier Okuma states that docu.
mentary evidence will show that Eng
land not only requested Japan's as
sistance. but approved her entire
program.
1t is reported hero that Germany
has been trying to transfer the Ger
man railroad In Shantung. China. to
America. Toxic believes, however.
that the United States. pursuing the
policy of neutrality outlined by Pres
ident Wilson's announcement OF neu.
trality. has greatly pleased the ia
panese.