New-York tribune., 1919-07-18

is only a fourth larger than the terri
tory originally cut out from Maryland
and Virginia to form the District of
Columbia, Che southern triangle of
which later was returned to Virginia.
Germans Took Control 1897
The Geographic Society bulletin fol-
lows in part:
"In 1896 q German expert reported
to the German government that deep
water harbor could be dredged and
constructed in the northeast corner Of
Kiaochau Bay. Overtures made to the
Chinese to lease the bay to Germany
for long terms of years were refused.
"In October, 1897. the opportunity
came to Germany to claim the desired
coaling and repair station for it's fleet
in Kiachau Bay by the murder of two
missionaries in another part of Shan
tung Province. Apologies and indemni-
ties were demanded. A German squad
ron entered the bay and raised the
German flag. In March, 1898, the Kiao-
chau convention was signed at Peking,
which gave a ninety-nine year lease
of 100 Ii Of land (65,400 yards or about
37.16 miles), comprising a rocky point
at the entrance of Kiaochau Bay, to
Germany, with supplementary railway
and mining concessions in the prov
ince, which provided for a railway
line from this leased territory on the
seacoast to Thinan-fu, the capital of
Shantung, with the right to develop
coal mines within thirty Ii Of the line
and to build two branch lines.
"Kiao-chau city was not included in
the territory leased by Germany, and
therefore is not within the area now
ceded to Japan.
Railway Completed in 1904
"The railway line of 255 miles from
Tsingtau to Tsinan-fu, the capital Of
Shantung, was completed in 1904. 1t
does not pass through any large or
rich cities-Ts;nanfu with only
100000 inhabitants. hardly counts in
teeming China-and the line traverses
rather poor part of the province.
"The coal mines of Fungtse, three
miles from the line, and the Poshan
produce superior coal, and both coal
fields have been worked by the Chinese
for centuries. Borings have been
made to depths os 5000 and 4,O0O feet
through many thick seams Of coal at
Poshan, but the Fung;se mines are
nearly exhausted.
"The railway line was built without
regard for local interests, and when
angry peasants drove Gil engineers and
construction gangs, urging that the
great railway embankments across,
their valleys anG fields would inlpound
the waters in the rainy season, a few
rounds from German machine guns
ended the discussion.
'In the first weeks Of August, 1914
the Germans made frantic efforts at
Peking temporarily to transfer Using
tau and the railway to some neutral
and obliging power, but not to China
con August 16 Japan sent an ul-
timatum to Germany, couched in the
exact language Germany, France and
Russia had addressed to japan in 1895
Arthur and the Liaotung Peninsula
for the sake of the peace of the East
War Declared August %, 1914,
con August 23 war was declared
and August rs the blockading squadron
were landed at Lungkow, west OF
Chefoo, went inland, cut the railway
at the point nearest that coast and
took possession of the line and its
stations up to Tsinan-fu, and then
landed and established base al
Lauschan Bay, fifteen miles east from
Tsingtau, just at the line of the leased
territory, and slowly closed in upor
the fortress and it's garrison Of some
| t,UUU lucu
"The whole campaign was so method
ically carried out that military men in
Japan termed it autumn man@uvres.
The Germans were twice formally asked
to surrender and save useless loss OF
life, but refused. Notice was sent that
bombardment would begin on certain
day, and they were invited to send out
all non -combatants, women and chill
dren. A boatload of such, including
the American Consul and several
priests, were exchanged at the harbor's
mouth to q Japanese destroyer, ant
the great guns began their play.
Germans Surrendered November Q
"At dawn of November 9, just as the
troops were about to leave thcil
trenches at the edge of the town anc
sweep the place in a handtohand as
sault, the white flag went up on the
Governors flagstaff"