Poem ~ Japan Battle for Tsingtao - Monday, 5 October 1914

From Tokio, on Saturday, comes a report.

The Japanese army in preparing for assault

On Tsingtao, are under constant attacks

On ships and forts - a German plane twice

Tried to attack Japanese vessels but failed.

A Japanese plane chased, fighting back, 

With bombs against a captive a balloon

Being moved to Tsingtao - damage unknown.

In Pekin, on 3 October, the Shantung railway,

Is taken under control of Japanese, between

Tsinanfu to Weihsien, for which the Chinese

Do not agree – Japan replied they could not

Allow Germans, In opposing their strategy

In their operation against Tsingtao, to control

A railway at their rear - They quoted a treaty

Of the Chino-German Treaty of 1898 is proof

That the rail line is essentially German.

As Part of China, Tsingtao is today called Qingdao,

Having then being a German colony since 1898 - 

The reason for this situation resulted from murders

Of two Germans missionaries, that happened 

In the 19th Century – Germany was only calmed 

Accepting China's offer of a colony on a 99-year lease; 

Due to end in 1997 - until 1914 Germany had mined,

For seventeen years, the Japanese and China seas.

In 1898 the killings at Shantung called for German

Action. Admiral Von Diedrich swiftly occupied 

The Chinese Barracks in the bay of Kiau-chau. 

On that same day, in spite of protests by a Chinese 

General  - The German flag raised on that ground – 

To appease the Germans China agreed to lease

Lands to Germany, who built a naval port and base,

Considering this to be their foot in the Far East, 

Where up to 4,000 German troops were stationed. 

Even a few days before Japan declared war,

On Germany, General Mitsuomi Kamio,

Was ordered by his government, on 16 August 

To prepare to besiege the German controlled port.

Then Japan issued an ultimatum to Germany,

For all their troops and forces be removed, 

From the Japanese and Chinese waters, 

Leaving control of the port with Japan.

After the affirmation of war on 23 August,

On 2 September, General Mitsuomi Kamio’s

18th Division of 23,000 men and 142 guns

Bombarded the port – a wary Britain sent

1,500 troops to assist Japan and observe

The actions taking place out in the East;

Germany was to hold out for two months.

The enemy garrison, being outnumbered,

At 6 to 1, eventually surrendered on 

7 November, finally handing over the port 

On 10 November: To locate elsewhere, 

British troops withdrew, while admiration 

Was made for General Kamio's siege tactics.

Of night raid and frontal attacks - the type

Soon to be employed on the western front.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1914. Japan and Kiao-Chau - Big Assault Preparing - Aeroplanes and Ships. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 5 Oct. p.8. Col.7. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11137076/Daily-Telegraph-October-5-1914.html [Accessed: 5 October 2014].

Duffy, M., 2009. Battles - The Siege of Tsingtao, 1914. [online] (Updated Saturday, 22 August 2009) Available at: <http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/tsingtao.htm> Accessed 5th October 2014].

Mann, J., 2014. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 5 October 2014). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11137076/Daily-Telegraph-October-5-1914.html

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Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2014. Siege of Tsingtao [online] (updated 5 October 2014) Available at: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Tsingtao> Accessed 5th October 2014]