JAPAN ISSUES DECLARATION OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2237, 25 August 1914, Page 5

JAPAN ISSUES DECLARATION OF WAR

* LONG SIEGE OF MGTAU EXPECTED WAR AREA TO EXTEND EAST OF YELLOW RIVER ■.-.'.- i i ;' -.- (Press Association Extraordinary.) •' (Rec. August 24, 8.30 a.m.) London, August 23. Japan lias declared war against Germany. • '' Japan's ultimatum in many respects is phrased similarly to that of Germany to Japan in 1905 (? 1895) in regard to Port Arthur. Amsterdam, August 23. A Berlin official telegram states that the German Government verbally informed the Japanese Minister that thero.was.no reply to the ultimatum, and that Germany would be obliged to recall her Ambassador from Tokio. ■ '. MIKADO'S PROCLAMATION TO ARMY., (Reo. August 24, 8.40 p.m.) > Tokio, August 24. . The Mikado has issued a proclamation commanding the army, and navy to • carry on hostilities against "'Germany; with nil their strength,'and to maintain the within the limit of the laws of nations. [ hoped to preserve peace in the Far ISast," the message states, "but' Britain was compelled to declare war, and Germany, biisy with < warliko preparations at. Kiaoohau, and her warships threatening the Japanese and British commbrce, did not reply to Japan's sincere advice." Official circles estimate that it will take three months to subdue Tsingtau, .the capital of Kiaochou. The German garrison is provisioned for eight months. London, August 23. The Japanese Embassy expects resistance at Kiaochau, which is well defended by several thousand Germans. The garrison has had time to make its preparations for resistance. " ,' . ' : Peking, August, 23. " Tho Japanese have decided that tbo war area extends in China eastward «> of the Yellow River.-' The Germans wore- under surveillanco from noon oui Sunday. The Japanese are ejecting- Germans from Mukden, Chang-chun, and Dahiy, in Manchuria. '..-.'.

At the close of the Chino-Japanese war in 1895' Japan, demanded from China as tho price of pence the southern littoral of. _ Manchuria. Russia* Germany, and France ..thereupon served on Japan a joint notice to quit, and Japan, exhausted by her struggle with China, had no choice but to obey. The notice was accompanied by .an expose of reasons, Its signatories said that-Japan's tenure of Mancluirian soil would menace the security of the Chinese capital,' would render the independence of Korea illusory, and would constitute an obstacle to tho peace of the Orient. Three years later, by way of indemnity for the murder of two missionaries by a mob, Germany seized Kiaochau.