The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-12-25
EYE WITNESS
RELATES HOW
.TEUTONSLOST
At TSINGTAU
a. N. Brace, Newspaper Man Who
Is Aboard Mongolia, Was With
German Garrison During Siege
laid by japanese and British
3Y LAND, SEA AND AIR
ATTACK WAS TERRIFIC

~ IAN WAC lEhhlFlC
Lone Aviator, Who Finally Escap-
ed In Machine and Is Believed
To Be Aboard Liner In Port Did
Heroic Work For Fatherland
n N EYE WITNESS OF THE
IA events preceding snd leading UP
=. to the capture Of Tsingtau. and
ne actual taking Of the city by the
LIED japanese and Brisish forces on
November 8 arrived in Honolulu last
,vcning on the Pasiac Mail steamer
dongoia in the person Of A. M. Brace,
eporter on the CHM Press, who was
resent in the doomed cty as the rep
csensatigc Of the Associated Press.
WELCOMED BY GERMANS
Mr.. Brace said last night that On Ail-
Just 70. when II was realized Germany
would not answer the Japanese ulti-
natam, he lafs Shanghai by rail for
rsingtau in order to W. ness the i'm
,ending military operation. Upon ar
rival at tho city ho first met the Amer
can consul, who stopped the German
-ommandsnt Captain Meyer Valdez,
Imperial navy, upon the street and men
toned the fact Of MIR. Braces arrival,
tating his business Captain Valdez.
avs Mr. Brace, was quite willing to
lave press correspcnaent Of a neutral
nation present durins the operations.
This attitude extended to all the Ger
mans comprising the garrison, many Of
whom were prominent business men
from the communities along the China
coast. iis -4.sas.A .r5t
JAPANESE BLOCKADE PORT
Although Japan declared war imme-
aiatsly upon the expiration Of the
period Of the ultimstum, the army Of
invasion did not arrive for some weeks.
but the Japanese navy almost inns
diately began a blockade Of the port.
Then, when the allied japanese British
armies did arrive, their landing was et-
fected at point about $40 niles from
the city Of Tsingtau, and the closing in
upon the boundaries Of Kiao-chau, the
limits Of the German colonial posses
sion, was delayed all Of three weeks by
the torrential rains which flooded tho
intervening country.
FLOOD IMPEDEs PROGRESS
Little progress was made by the IN
vading armies during the tiooded period,
Mr.. Brace said, for the reason that tho
Japanese could not bring up their siege
artillery, and tho Infantry would have
to fight their way, under great diticul-
ties. The Germans made the most Of
this time by strengthening their outcr
defenses and erecting strong inner
line about three miles IN extent benin l
the city. This defense consisted OF .
continuous line of trenches, fortified
with i've redoubts in which machine
guns were placed. and supported By
guns most of them from the dismantled
gunboats.
WEAK ON LAND FRONT
The great weakness Of Tsingtau, re-
marked Mr.. Brace, was IN the fact that
it was not a strong fortress like PORT
Arthur, but was mere fortified posi-
ton, which could be defended from tn,
attack Of warships, but was not sum
GENTLY protected in rear from Land at,
tacks. The three fortified hills IN rear
Of me city. no says, mounted only gum
Of an ancient pattern, which might
have been sufficient TO repel the attack
Of Chinese revoiutionsries, but were OF
little use against modern artillery,
The Japanese brought up their field
guns and lighter siego artihery ane
made easy work OF reducing tiNse in.
adequate for,fHcations. The German
sustained comparatively small losses II
this artillery aght and fell back when
tie enemy's artillery are had smother,
ed them. Tho advancing infantry speed
7 ny occupied the positions as the Ger
mans retired.
I The net result OF these operations
wrs to fnable tho Japanese TO land
their heavier siege guns. Including tho
famous Clevon,ipeh howiizers, at n
point on the Shhntlme PromoDtor2
much nearer the city Of TsiDgtau, with
out the Necessity Of bringing them
across the lone stretch of bad country
over which they had Just advanced.
Once placed M nosit,on, the work Of
these great howitzels was very effect
I i've, and the German. defenders had no
weapons 70 make suitable reply.
Continued on nave "A .,'N