Evening journal., 1922-12-27
7Singtao-Cerman-Japanese
Chinese Chameleon

WASHINGTON. d. O.. Dec. "a
THE REIMBURSEMENT of Tsingtao and
the Kiaochow leasehold by Japan
on December 10. and IT'S subsequent
troubles with Chinese bandits mark
the passing of one dream OF Japa-
nese expansion in the Flowery King
dom, just as the surrender of the
same territory to Japan almost ex-
actly eight years ago marked the
tragic end Of the dream of German
imperialism in the country" re-
marks q bulletin from the Washing
ton, d. c., headquarters of the Ma
tional Geographic Society.
This 2OO-square-mlle slice of IA
nous old Shantung," continues the
bulletin, FOR millenniums had lit
tie in its lot 70 distinguish it from
similar sleepy patches of China's
coast country. Suddenly II awoke
twenty-four years ago, with the
worlds spotlight beating fully upon
II. II has been in the glare ever
since; the bone OF contention of em-
pires, and an object for powerful II
immsterial diplomatic forces and ul-
timatums, when II was not the tar
get for all too material naval guns
and their high explosive shells.
snatched From Sbabbitness 90
Prosperity.
''Tsingtao. the port OF the Kiao-
chow leasehold. has been a veritable
Cinderella among Oriental commun-
ities-and to mix the metaphor. a
chameleon nationally. Snatched
from its existence as a shabby
fishing village, dt was made
into a 'spotless Town to serve first
as a gateway for German Kultur
and commerce; and nter as an en-
trepot for japanese influence and
goods.
when Germany decided to COM
pete with other European nations
that were taking possession OF
slices of Chinese territory, and land
ed her forces at Bsingtao in 1898, 1t
consisted OF little more than a mar
row main street lined by low Chin
ese buildings with paper windows
and straw roofs. One of the few
groups Of buildings OF any conse-
quence was the 'Yamen' of the
Chinese Governor at Tsinetao. with
it's central structures, its courtyards
and sourrounding houses. These
the Germans took over for the
headquarters of their governor.
"Once on the ground the Germans
worked feverishly at making over
the village and constructing the
com bination OF Little Berlin and
German Hongkonk' Of which they
dreamed Chinese houses were
taken over and made clean; and
temporary barracks were built, fol-
lowed by permanent ones. Wide
streets and avenues were laid out
and lined with shade trees; sub
stantial business buildings and resi- /
dences rose. Drainage systems were |
esta blished and other sanitary mee-
sures taken; and a supply of pure !
water was piped in from the hills |
Massive granite breakwaters and |
piers were constructed; the harbor
was dredged to a depth to accom- !
modate the largest ships. A huge |
floating dock capable of accommo-
dating merchantmen or warships |
provided the finishing touch which |
made the once sleepy little Tsingtao |
into a full-fedged commercial and /
naval base and outpost Of empire.
by the outbreak OF the World
war Tsingtao represented a bril-
liant result OF German efficiency
Sixty million dollars had been spent
in the Transformation. An excel
lent railroad tapped the interior of
shantung, mines were being open
ed and shipping was steadily in
OF the city itself the Ger
mans who then numbered more
han 1000 shop-keepers, profession
Al men and other civilians. in addl-
lion to the military, boasted with
Justification that it
was a paradise on earth Even
The surrounding hills. previously
ienuded. had been repianted to
forest. Good German schools were
The excellent bathing.
beach had been capitalized by the
building of hotels and the place was
fast becoming a pleasure resort for
European residents in China.
From 'Little Berlin" TO little
Tokyo"
'The character OF this most Ger
man of towns was changed in 1914
almost as radically and as quickly
IS a motion picture setting is trans
,ormed from representation Of
London to one of New York. The
German flag came down in Novem-
Der and most Of the Germans were
ent to Japan as prisoners. Civilian
Japanese as well as soldiers poured