The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-01
JAPAN'S PRIZE Big
SLICE O"FTERRITORY
Great Port If Tsing-taO aud
kiaO-chOw Province
spells Of War.
COST ABOUT $40. 600. 900

Japan's entry into The great way has
given her possession ~ one ~ the fdcs:
important Chinese potis and territory
covering an area OF ibout 1000 square
miles.
In this territory IL comprised the port
of Tsng-tso. ranked the mn IN China.
and the province Of kiso-chow The
imports into T~sine-tso 20 .cl2 we've
estimated at s2s.73t.500. and he OK
ports for the same year s20.o7}.15o
This prize was won by Japan a. 4 cos
% about $40. 900. 900 with war losses
at about 1000 men killed and wounded.
three torpedo ~destroyers and one
cruiser.
The province Of kiao-chOw vas held
by Germany. lch a:ter the occups-
ton OF the territory in 1897 ostensibly
because ~ the murder OF Two mission
aries. forced China 20 grant n lease
OF the province and port FOR ninety
nine years. The German General Staii
saw a, onc- the immense possibilities.
military and commercial. which the
place offered for pushing German lniu-
ence IN the Far East.
Gen. Won Bernhsrdi urged the eSpendi-
,ure Of 81. 000. 900 for the construction
OF d.fence-. Although this project came
70 naught the port was put in a posi-
ton OF defence from the sea by
Notifications covering the entire coas:.
Three large forts. Hits. Bismarck and
. Moltke. were built for the primary line
OF defence. and south Of the Hai-pJ
River Ave more were located.
Tsing-tao Is connected by ra!lroa ]
with Pekin and the Tsing-tao to Tsinan-
~ railroad connects II with the Trans
Siberian and Europe. the territory
leased 20 Germany In February. 1898.
contains valuable coai fields and oil de-
rosi,s served by the latter railway.
Japan's U%Itimatum.
The European war was about two
weeks old when Japan. on August ls,
1914. sent an ultima;um 70 Germany
calling for the retirement {. all Ger
man watships from Japanese ard Chi-
rese waters or their disarmament. and
the evacuation within a mont OF the
territory OF K~iso-chow. This action
was taken OF course In view OF Japans
offensive and defensive treaty with
Great Britain. the object Of which has
been stated TO be the mutual defenc.
OF the rights OF the parties TO the al
lance in the Orient. One week was
given 10 Berlin TO make a reply. A.
no answer was forthcoming In Toxic
by August 90 the Japanese prepared
10 begin hostllitIes. and on the follow.
ing day war was officially declared
against Germany.
There were at the time in kiao-cho~
about 5000 German troops. mostly ma.
rines. The territory was entirely under
naval control. the Governor. Meyer.
! waldeck. being a Captain In the Ger
man navy. Japanese transports imme-
dia,ely began the task OF conveying a
large force for a LAM attack on Tsing.
tao. abou $4,000 infantry being the hrs'
contingent sent for the reduction OF the
Kaiser's outpost OF world empire.
Recognizing that the harbor de'ences
OF Tsing-tao were immensely strons
against a sea attack the japanese bent
all their efforts to An attack by land
For this purpose they planned an over
land march to take Tsing-tao from ths
rear. Meanwhile the bombardment OF
the forts OF the port was begun or
August ~. British ships Joining In the
attack on the following day. Austria
formally declared war on Japan or