The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 57, December 9, 1897 by Various


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Page 1

Following this outrage came news that the captain of a German gunboat
had been attacked by a Chinese mob, which also insulted the German flag
by throwing stones at it.

The Government was extremely angry at this, and immediately demanded an
explanation from China.

The Chinese Government expressed its sorrow for the occurrence, and sent
orders to the governor of Shantung to arrest and punish the offenders.

Germany was informed of the action taken by the Chinese Government,
which, it is said, used all possible diligence and haste to bring the
offenders to justice; so much diligence, in fact, that on the 15th of
the month the governor of Shantung telegraphed that he had arrested four
of the culprits.

Germany, however, went right ahead in her own way, without paying any
heed to the efforts China was making to appease her; and to the intense
surprise of the world, simultaneously with the news of the arrests came
word that Germany had seized one of the Chinese harbors in the Yellow
Sea.

The Yellow Sea is on the east of China, and is formed by the peninsula
of Korea. Shantung, where the missionaries were killed, is a province
bordering on the Yellow Sea, and the fortified bay captured by the
Germans is called Kiao Chou, and is an excellent harbor on the Shantung
Coast, with the town of Kiao lying at its head.

This harbor was guarded by three forts, which were manned by fifteen
hundred Chinese soldiers.

Without word or warning the German admiral entered the bay, steamed up
opposite the forts, and ranged his ships in line of battle. He then sent
word to the Chinese commander that the three forts must be vacated
within three hours or he would bombard them.

The Chinese commander made no answer, so the German admiral proceeded to
land a force of men to take possession of the place.

The Chinamen watched the proceedings without making any demonstration,
and allowed the Germans to land six hundred soldiers and several guns
without making an effort to prevent them.

As soon, however, as the force began to march upon the forts, the
Chinese became panic-stricken, and fled helter-skelter to the hills.

The Germans marched into the forts in good order, and took possession of
them without striking a blow. They then hauled down the Chinese flag and
ran up their own in its place.

It was found that the Chinese commander and his family had not fled with
the rest of the garrison, and as these people promptly placed themselves
under the protection of Germany, there was no trouble with them.

The German soldiers proceeded to man the forts, and Germany is now in
possession of them. It is believed that she means to keep them.

China is justly indignant at this act on the part of Germany, and fully
realizes that she has good cause to declare war; but she is so weak in
military and naval force that she is not able to resent the outrage, and
the robbers are likely to be able to hold their prize.

Europe is astonished that Germany should have committed such a daring
act. It has been understood by all the European nations that when
savages misbehave, the only way to teach them manners is to step in and
seize their lands; but China is not a savage country, and the Chinese
cannot be treated like ignorant barbarians. Every one is wondering what
the outcome will be.

Germany evidently expects war, and is preparing for it. She has
withdrawn her troops from Crete, and has sent them to the East, it is
supposed to Kiao Chou.

You remember, of course, that when the Powers occupied Crete, each
nation in the combination landed a certain number of soldiers on the
island to help preserve peace.

Some of these soldiers have been at Crete ever since, and some have been
withdrawn. England called hers away some time since, and now Germany,
having use for her soldiers in China, has ordered hers to other duty.

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Books | Photos | Paul Mutton | Fri 29th Mar 2024, 8:22