The Year 1915 Illustrated/The Fall of Tsing-Tau

N last year's record we chronicled the entry of Japan into the war and the early stages of the attack on the German possession of Kiao-chau on the coast of China. The strongly fortified town of Tsing-tau, the headquarters of German kultur in the far east, and the base for the German Pacific Squadron, was the only serious menace to British and Japanese trade interests in that part of the world. The German Governor, Admiral Meyer Waldeck, and his garrison of 5,000, were bidden by the Kaiser to defend the fortress as long as breath remained in their bodies, but in the course of the siege, lasting from August 27th to November 7th, it was made very evident that without assistance from other quarters, the German position was a hopeless one. The combined British and Japanese forces drew an impenetrable cordon round the city, cut off all supplies, and then, with their big siege guns, destroyed one after another the forts which had been constructed as such great cost for the protection of German interests in China. By the night of November 6th the Allies were through the inner forts, with their trenches up to the last redoubts, and preparations were advanced for a final assault to be made on the following morning. This attack was never delivered for at 6 o'clock in the morning white flags were displayed and at 7.30 in the evening, Admiral Meyer Waldeck signed the terms of the capitulation. On November 10th the Germans formally transferred Tsing-Tau to General Kamio, who had commanded the Japanese forces, and thereby relinquished the Kaiser's much cherished foothold on the Continent of Asia. The German casualties during the course of the siege were heavy, and nearly 3,000 men were taken prisoner and interned in Japan. The Japanese losses, out of a total of 22,980, were 236 killed and 1,282 wounded, and the British losses out of a force of 1,500 were twelve killed and 61 wounded. In addition, Japan lost one third-class cruiser, the Takachiho, a destroyer and torpedo boat, and three mine sweepers.

After the siege, General Barnardison, who had been in command of the British troops taking part, paid a visit to Tokyo, where he received a most enthusiastic reception. By the terms of the arrangement between Great Britain and Japan, the latter remains in charge of Kiao-chau until the end of the war.