JAPAN'S HOSTILE ATTITUDE TOWARDS GERMANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15686, 13 August 1914, Page 7

JAPAN'S HOSTILE ATTITUDE TOWARDS GERMANY.

INTENTION TO DECLARE WAR CLEARLY INDICATED GERMAN TERRITORY OF KIAOCHOW BAY MAY BE SEIZED. BRITISH VESSELS IN CHINA WATERS NOT YET MOLESTED. London, August 11. Router's Pekin correspondent states there arc convincing indications that Japan will shortly declare war upon Germany. The first act of Japan will be to seize Ts'ingtao, the commercial centre of Kiaochow Bay, the district over which Germany holds a lease for 99 years. The British Consul at Shanghai has reported that no British vessols in Chinese waters had been molested up to Sunday last. Kiaochow Bay, which is Germany's .only Asiatic possession, is a largo inlet on the south side of tho promontory of Shantung, in China. It was seized in November, 1897, by tho German fleet, nominally to secure reparation for the murder of two German missionaries in the Province pf Shantung. In 1898 the bay and tho land on both sides of the entrance within certain defined lines were leased to Germany for 99 year*. During the continuance of the lease Germany exercises all the rights of territorial sovereignty, including the right to erect fortifications. .The area leased is about 117 square miles, and over a further area, comprising a rone of some 32 miles measured from any point on the show to the bay, the Chinese Government may not issue any ordinances without the consent of Germany. Tho population of tho ceded area is 84,000. The chief seat of government is Ts'ingtao, the administration being entrusted to the German Navy Department. Imports in 1910 were £2,500,000, and exports £2,500,000. Tho German garrison in Kiaochow consists of 92 officers, 2374 Gorman non-commissioned officers and -"men, and one battalion of the East Asiatic Garrison Brigade. Che port is used as a fortified base for tho German Far Eastern Squadron. PORT OF GERMAN SOUTH-WEST AFRICA ABANDONED. INHABITANTS RETIRE TO INLAND CAPITAL. ("Received August 12, 7.20 p.m.) Capetown, August 11. Tho Germans have evacuated Swakopmupd, in German South-west Africa. Before leaving they blew up the jetty and sank the tugs in tho harbour. Similar steps wero taken at Luderibbacht, whilst all provisions were removed inland to Windhoek, the capital. German South-west Africa includes the region lying • between Portuguese West Africa and Capo Colony, excluding Walfish Bay,' which belongs to Britain. It has an area of 322,450 squaro miles, and a population of 79,556. Tho European population in 1913 was 14,816, of which 12,292 were German. The military force, inclusive, of police, is 2992 men. Swakopmund is a port adjacent to Walfish Bay, which, except seaward, is surrounded by German South-west Africa. Walfish Bay was proclaimed British territory in 1878 and annexed to Cape Colony in 1884. It has a coastlino of 20 miles, and its harbour is provided with a pier 200 yds long, and is safe in all weathor. The population of Walfish Bay numbers 3076, of which 1638 are whites. Windhoek, which is the seat of administration of German South-wesi Africa, is situated inland, and is connected with Swakopmund by a railway of 237 miles. L/uderibbacht is probably a mis-spelling for Ludoritz, which is a town on the coast about 300 miles south of Swakopmund. SQUADRON OF CRUISERS BELIEVED TO BE AT SAMOA, Sydney, Augußt 11. The steamor St. Louis, which has reached Newcastle from Noumea, reports that three of tho German cruisers are. believed to be at Samoa. The JJamoan Archipelago consists of 14 islands, 8 of which are owned by Germany and 6 by the United States. Savaii and Upolu, the largest islands of tho group, belong to Germany. The population of tho German islands is estimated at 35,000. In 1913 there were 544 white inhabitants, of whom 329 were Germans and 132 British. Imports in 1910 wore £173,100 and exports £176,700. The chief exports are copra and cocoa beans. The capital of tho islands is the port of Apia, in Upolu, which is a coaling station for the German Pacific Squadron.