KAIAU-CHAU.

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15443, 4 September 1914, Page 9

KAIAU-CHAU.

AX AUSTRALIAN'S IMPRESSIONS. One day in June last, when an early northern summer was warming the a r, Mr A. T. Saunders, of North Adelaide., stepped ashoro from the northern German liner Prinz Luchyig, on arrival at Tsmg-'tau, from Kobe. T.sii:g-tau is tihe fine little town which the tterroans during thoir eighteen years' occupancy, have built- on the acquired territory of Kiau-chau. He co:nnuin:icated some impressions to a member of the Sydney "Daily Tulegraph" staff. . T;ne town :s built <m both slopes of a kind of peninsula, the end of which, and an adjoining island, mark the water entrance -to the -bay. After passing into the bay the ship .reaches an artificial harbour, formed of two semi-circular breakwateis sweeping out from- tho shore. "Within th:s harbour is a. small island used as a naval depot, witlh a- floating dock of enormous capacity attached, while jutting from the shore is a splendid stone pier. Tiiero were live German warships in port.. including - the Gncissnau and Sc.harnhoist, about, which so much has b„vjn heard lately, and tJhe Leipsig, supposed at present to be near tht. Cahfornian coast.

Tsing-tau appeared to the visitor to be tittle more than a naval arsenal, and most of tho buildings were adm'n'strative. There \\\ re very few shops. The streets were beautifully laid out with trees and flower-beds, and the mailt business part of the town' c-lnnhs up the s'.opcs away from the harbour. t£ic resident'al port-en b 1 ng'situateel o i the other slopes looking towards tho sea.

At- the pier was a hiir HamburgAmerika- liner. wl< eii had just i'mtlcl troefps ami Mores from Go: tunny. Tiioiv were- a liumbjr <:l' German troops ard l aval men about ill • to>. n. but no i'cris were to be seen by ;no v : s t r. Ah the centre cf tin: t:.wn wa ; a h'jj h i' on whu-Ci the Ge.-mans ha 1 made 1 r;_'.p'antai'on.w of tr es Ac the 'uiavn.: wer«> flagstaff* and a wireles; telegraphy station, but v'atrrs we: e everywhere warned off by th-_> fainiii-:".-words.* ''K:ntr!tt Verl ote ()n tJi • slioreward sdo < f the hill tr.e v:si-ti.r saw a larce • dry d t:-h. prot- rted on ca?h s'de by wire entanglements about 30ft wide. The Chinese ill Dae neighbourhood of Tsing-tau, who have a quarter of their own. are tletcribud as in'er'.cr spe;-i----niens of the'r race. Althcuiili n aecordaiHe with German ideas, tin: streets of the Chinese quarter are. spacious and airy, the lions:.s liecoa:e ddapidated. Tlil> Chinese appeaivd to be k tliorouyhiy in hand, and a. nmnb.'r of them are emp!oyc<l as i-ol cs and so'd ers. -Mr Saunders was nf oj>r. on that the Japanese would have jireat dif(iciilty in into frtni the seaward : but there was no apparent re:isoit why the.r troops, one t ia::dod in tho nc-. uhbnurhood, sliould riot take tiie place I font sliorewai ds. Tiie Gn - mau }:opiil;itien was about 70JO. The dry country round about produced wheat. During thr- sojourn r.f the Pr'nz Lnd. w l: sho v.a.? v.- ited by many Germans l'roiu tho garrisons. Tiny were men of line physique, w'tli pleasant sociable ma tillers. As the liner backed ;n\ ay from the pier a stroiiji wind threatened t-> b'ow here afia nst tho knife-Ike bows of the t far end <;f the per. 'l'll-re was i:i.tr.ense commotion, and tiie oiw.ser's i-iiics had to hi- cast, away, so that sin; cnuld draw backwards from the liner. The Austrian emit r Ka.'sei-in Klixabetlt. reported to have b eti dismantled was at Sl-.'in'jiiai when ihe ilVnz I.\ulw'j: calied t'iieie. She was descrdjed as a smali vessel, smart, in appearance, and painted olive-green.