Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-15
JAPAN PLANS tn
/ GRAB M0RELAND
Ieollo,asaso eollo,slt1o sie,s of the Gravest
Import Reaches Nations
Chief Officials.
WAR TO BE STARTED '''
IN NEUTRAL ORIENT
German Provinces in China
Believe to Be the Goal
Of Island People. !

Washington, Aug. 14.-Ohicial IN
formation received by the state depart.
ment today from the American en-
bassy in Toxic is to the effect that
Japan Is about to declare war on Ger
many and join with Great Britain,
France and Russia In the reduction Of
the German fortress of Kiao-Cho
Such a move on the part Of Japan
has been expected, but nevertheless
authoritative information received
causes a shock to officials here. II
means the far east will become q the
ater OF war; that the neutrality of
China undoubtedly will be violated,
and that many vexatious questions in.
volving the United States and its ship.
ping will develop.
According to the offcial advic0s
Japan will undertake the work Of cap
turing the German possession In Shan
tung province, leaving the ships Of her
allies. REINFORCED by some Of her own
vessels, to invest the place by seA.
Japanese Know Defensee.
kiao-Chou is not expected to be q
Port Arthur. In the hrst place, Il n
not defended by as large number OF
men as the Russians had at the latter
point; and, In the second. IL wsa. nos
protected to any great extent from the
land side prior to the outbreak Of the
war The exact character Of its de-
lenses are known to the Japanese, but
the authorities here have Nttle infoe.
nation on tho subject.
Since the acquisition Of Kiao- Chou
by Germany In 1897 . large number
of heavy Krupp gums and field artill.
cry have been emplaced In strategic
positions, and these, served By welk
trained German marines, undoubtedly
will do considerable damage 10 The
assailants.
5000 Germans In 0asstsoA
The German garrison Il not more
than 5000 men and there are some
Chinese under German omcofs.
In addition, the few German and
Austrian cruisers In the far east
sought refuge in the port upon tho out
break OF war. Probably these veaseis
will be stripped OF their armament ~
far as possible and tho guns taken
from them will be mounted on shoro.
The crews Of the ships also will be
landed.
Such torpedo boats and submarines
as the Germans have will be used to
defend the harbor from attack by the
allied squadrons cruising OF tho en-
trance.
in order to effect the capture Of
Kiao-C Chou the Japanese will send 49,.
900 men, according to all the informa-
tion that can be obtained. This force
will effect landing, not In the terri
tory held under ninety-nine-year lease
by the Germans, but in that which Is
recognized to belong to China. Here
will be a violation Of Chinese soves.
eighty.
China Appeal Explained.
1t was for the purpose OF meeting
exactly this situation that the Chi.
nese made representations to Japan
and the United States, as we'll as to
the powers actually at war. some days
ago. to secure respect for her neutral.
ity. These representations, though
they appealed strongly to this govern
ment, failed to obtain results, because
all the European sIates declined to
bind their hands In advance.
Japan definitely stated that she did
not consider the moment opportune
for any such action. The reason for
this decision on her part now is ap'
parent in view Of her officially reported
intention to declare war.