The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-11-12
Using TAU HAS
SURRENDERED
TO JAPANESE
GERMAN FORTRESS IN CHINA is
FORCED TO GIVE UP.
VICTORY WAS DEARLY BOUGHT
The Allies Lose over Three Thous-
and Men and Several War ships.
Garrison Numbered About
Seven Thousand Men.

Seven Thousand Men.
Toxic, Nov. Tt Is officially an
nounced that the German fortress OF
Tsing-Tau has surrendered to the
Japanese and British forces. The
first step in bringing about the sur
render of the fortress occurred at
midnight waen the infantry charged
and occupied the middle fort Of the
line of defense In this operation
they took 200 prisoners.
The Germans hoisted the white
flag at 7 o'clock this morning at the
weather observation bureau of Tsin-
Tau. The quick capitulation OF the
Germans was the cause of much sur
prise and joy to the men OF the army
and navy Operating against IT anu
also to the people Of Toxic,
The charge against the middle tort
was brilliant one. II was led by
Gen. Yoshimi Yamada at the nead OK
companies of infantry and engin-
GERS.
u,a Allies Losses Heavy.
Reports from various sources
pointed out that the allies loss
around Kioa-Chow has been upward
of 5000 men and several second rate
warships. The details of the move
ments have been secret, fiut the first
genera operation undertaken by the
Japanese was the sweeping OF the
waters around KiaoCno or mines
which the Germans had laid. In this
connection 100 Japanese shell divers
offered their services, pointing out
that they could dive and release tho
mines. But this was refused, since
the Japanese law prohibits the en-
pIoyment of women in warlike en-
gagements. At least one Of tne Jap
anese mine dragging boats was blown
lup.
| The next general move on the part
of the Japanese was to sieze the Ger
man-owned railway running west
from Tsing.Tau into the province OF
lShan.Tung.
This was done under violent pro
ltest from the Chinese government
(which held that it was violation Of
the integrity of toe Chinese republic
but the Japanese went ahead with
their operations.
The number of the expeditionary
forces has never been officially
ldivulged, but it Is said to have been
upward of 10000 men. A British
detachment consisting of some 500
South Wales borderers and 400 In
dian sikhs, under command of Brig.
General Nathaniel w. Bernardiston,
commander of the north China for
ces, was at their head, and Is said
to have formed a part of the center
of the Japanese line in the invest
ment of TsingTau.
Fighting continued from the mid
die of September intermittently until
the fall of the fortress. During tnis
lperiod both the German and the
Japanese warsnips and aeroplanes
we're engaged in the bonbartment OF
each others positions On one of the
NOSE severe engagements on Oct !
it was announced that the Japanese
loss was 500 killed and 500 wounded
II was then reported that the Japan.
csc would await the arrival of siege
guns before continuing operations.
At various times German losses were
reported up to score or more.
Was of Wide Interest.
The fall of Tsing-Tau ends the
most picturesque of the minor phas-
es of the great world war now rag
\ ing. On two continents and in many
of the islands of the seas where col
onies of the warning nations were
planted combats of more or less in
terest have taken place, garrisons
have been captured and towns occu-
pied peacefully, but in the little
German concession in the south side
of the Shan Tung peninsula of Chi
ma there has been going on since
| late in August a reduced scale OF
war That from all accounts has du.
Iplicated nearly all the features OF
those battles in Europe that have
resulted in the capture of fortified
positions. ..re.
Last Possession In Orient.
The capture Of Using Tau loses to
| Germany her last foot of possessions
on the Aiatic mainland as Well as
on the Asiatic mainland as well as
| the German empire in Europe.
For nearly three months the little
German garrison, amounting to about
| 1000 men and nearly wholly com
posed of reservists VINO were living
or doing business in China, has held
out against the land and sea at
tacks of the japanese and of certain
British detachments of both white
and Indian troops that found them.
selves in China at the outbreak of
the war. What the losses of
garrison have been are not known.
but the official Japanese and British
reports have indicated that Using
Tau has been taken at heavy cost OF
men on the part of the allies.
1t was on Aug. Is, that Japan
threw herself into the European war
as an ally OF Great Britain after de-
handing that Germany withdraw or
Intern all German warships In Asia
tic waters and relinquish possession
OF Kiao-Chow.