Evening star., 1920-02-29
By THEORORE e. BURTON.
Former Senator from Ohio.

HOrm1SE senator from ONO.
- VERY one has heard recently
T OF Shantung. 1t is called the
Holy Land" of China There
Confucius and Mencius were
born and. their bones are buried Null
titudes Of Chinese every years make
piigrimages to their tombs. An un-
usual share of the statesmen, soldiers
and scholars of China came from
Shantung. The sacred mountain Of
Tai Shan is within it's borders. Ac-
cording to the accepted legend. the
sacred dragon. emblem OF the Chi
nese dynasty. appeared to the en-
peror near the foot of this mountain
5000 years ago and impaired to him
upon scrolls the secrets of agricul-
ture, Of fishery and Of music. which
have been the basis Of Chinese life
ever since.
II there is an ardent affection in the
breast Of a Chinaman for any part
Of his country it is for Shantung.
It's area is just little less than that
Of the state of Illinois, yet it has So,-
000, 900 inhabitants and is the most
thickly populated section OF China. AS
is we'll known, Germany obtained a
ninety-nine-year lease of not very
clearly defined area in this province
around the Bay of Kiao-Chau. includ-
ing the town of Tsing-tao. with the
right to construct certain railways
and to hold and develop mining prop
critics for distance of thirty Ii (aoout
thirteen miles) on each side OF these
railways or their branches. This con-
cession is confirmed to Japan oy tne
peace treaty. Japan has made va
rious promises to surrender the ter
ritory involved. but the date and ex-
tent Of the surrender are penang.
Pays Visit i'm October.
I visited this locality last OCTOBER
selecting a route from the Straits OF
Shimonoseki past numerous islands on
the coast of Japan, then through the
Straits of Tsushima, where one OF the
worlds decisive naval battles was fought
between the Japanese fleet under Togo
and the Russian fleet commanded py
Admiral Rojestvensky in the year 1904.
Still farther on the ship sails in sight
of the Korean coast, and then in the
midst of rocky uninhabited islands. the
channel between some Of which is mar
row and very deep. Notwithstanding
the fact that this route affords conven-
lent access to a central part OF China
and has marked attractions as a scenic
route with historical associations. the
ships steward stated that for years past
only seven Americans had crossed with
him, all Of whom were missionaries.
On the morning Of the third day the
| boat entered the bay outside Of Tsing-
tao, thence passed through a strait into
the large inner Bay of kiao-Chau. some
twenty miles in length and of an almost
equal width A large space within the
bay has a natural depth sufficient for
the movement of ocean-going vessels,
and if the shallower portions should be
dredged there would be room for all the
fleets of the orient In fact, the har-
| bor of Tsing-tao is one of the best, if
,, not the very best, in China 1t was i'm
proved by the Germans after their occu-
patton in 1898 by the construction of
breakwaters and two large piers ex-
| tending into the bay, both equipped with
up-to-date machinery and furnished with
railroad tracks.
Eject Of Foreign Occupation.
To the right Of the lower portion of
the bay is located the city Of Using
tao. which is being rapidly extended
to the north. formerly a Chinese town.
but now showing the effect success
sively Of German and Japanese occu-
| patton. II we compare this city with
other cities Of China. it shows the best
construction and has the closest re-
semblance to tho cities Of the occident
It has excellent roads. modern water
works and a sewerage system, with
large warehouses. excellent residences
and business buildings. and Luther
an church. which is a finer structure
than any other Protestant church yet
seen in the orient.
Reminders of German occupation
survive in the names of Mounts