Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-14

severed diplomatic relations with Ger
many. taken possession Of all German
merchant ships at Shanghai. about air
in number. placed their crews on shore
under guard and placed armed guards
on the vessels. Advioes to tho navy
department today gave no further der
tails.
China's severance Of relations had
been expected here for weeks. Tho &C.
ton Of the United States in breaking
relations was received by acoiamation
by Chinese officials and the press.
Feeling against Germany has run high,
not only because scores OF Chinese on
the way to Europe have lost their
lives thru German submarine oper.
ations, but from memory OF the kali
ser's order to his boxer punitive forca
to make the word German dreaded In
China for a century and the seixuro OF
the province OF Shantung for the MUIR
der OF two missionaries.
American Minister Reinsch. at Pek-
ing. today reported that China had
severed relations with Germany and
the German minister had been handed
his passports.
An Act of War.
Seizure Of the German ships may
be taken by Germany a. an act Of war
as In the case Of Portugal. Chin9s Ac-s
tion may be followed by seizure ot
German property in China, which Is
very extensive.
In addition to the concessions held
by Germany In Chinese cities, which
Will be seized as Quast-public prop.
erty, there are extensive private Ger.
man holdings In China It is not known
whether the German citizens will be
interned.
Aligned With Japan.
China's action Is expected to have
far reaching effects on far eastern
history, as it aiigns her with Japan
and the other entente powers. German
trade. which before the war had be-
come the most dangerous competitor
to British and Japanese business in
China, offered a tempting prize for
Japan. This phase OF the commercial
situation was widely discussed at tho
Paris economic conference, when plans
to drive Germany out OK the far-east-
ern market were adopted.
More Munitions For Russia.
The immediate effect Of China's
severance of relations probably will
he a greatly Increased output Of muni-
tions for Russia. China has provided
much OF the raw material on which
the latter immense munition produc-
ton has been built up China has six
arsenals and extensive Iron mines.
China already has sent 100000
coolies to France and Russia and can
increase the number almost without
limit. SO far the men have gone un-
der private auspices as lahorers. China
as yet. has not accepted the allies
invitations TO enter the war.
Cabinet Forces Break.
Immediately after Americas sever
ance OF relations with Germany China
began to discuss similar action and
the Belgian and French legations In
vited her to declare war on Germany
in return for remission OF the boxed
indemnity. Diplomatic sources In
Washington. however, said the entente
promised merely a postponement OF
the boxer indemnity, not its remls-
| sion.
On March 4 the cabinet definitely
voted to sever relations. but President
l.! Yuan Hung refused to accede on
the ground that such power was his
alone. The cabinet resigned, with
drew to Tien Tsin and finally returned
when the president agreed to break.
On March 10 the president and his
cabinet appeared before the house and
! asked APPROVAL of severance OF rela =
tions, which was granted by vote Of
431 to ST. Later the senate agreed.
| Meanwhile the entente invitation to
enteh the war remained In abeyance.
Recent dispatches from Peking have
spoken in high terms OF the part
American Minister .Reinsch has taken
in tho steps leading up to china's ac-
| ton.