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Kiautschou. (p.30)

History : The territory of Kiautschou, located in the Chinese province of Schantung, was occupied in the name of Germany by the landing detachment of the cruiser squadron under the command of Vice Admiral von Diederichs on November 14th 1897. 
After a treaty with the Chinese government, signed March 6th 1898, ceded all claims the Chinese government had within the area for a lease over 99 years, it had been proclaimed, by Imperial edict of April 27th 1898, a German protectorate.
Administratively the Protectorate of Kiautschou is placed under the Reichs-Marine-Amt, while all other colonies are placed under the Reichskolonialamt.

Size : The protectorate includes the entire water body of Kiautschou Bay up to the high water mark, furthermore the northern and southern promontory at it's inlet up to suitable ridges (46,6 respectively 461,5 square km), as well as the islands located within the bay and in the sea off the bay (43,6 square km). The total land area amounts to 551,7 square km (roughly the size of Hamburg). In addition a zone has been established within which the Chinese government cannot implement any reform without German approval; the border of this line is 50 km distant from the protectorate; this zone covers roughly 1/2 the Kingdom of Saxony.

Population : According to the last census undertaken in 1910 34,180 Chinese live within the city limits of Tsingtau (in the years 1911 to 1913, because of the revolution, many Chinese have immigrated, so that the census in July 1913 counted 55,312 (an increase of 56 %) and (except military personnel) 2,069 Europeans in 1913. Another 1,621 Europeans in 1910, as compared to 1,531 in the year 1907. To these, a number of Japanese have to be added.
The population of the rural district earlier has been estimated at 100,000, but it is at least 161,000; the population of the 50 km zone is unknown. Including military personnel and the population living on water, the city of Tsingtau has a population of over 60,000.

Morphology And Hydrology : On the northern promontory the Lan-Schan, up to 1,130 m high. Almost the entire peninsula of Schantung is covered by a 600 km long mountain range; it is separated from China's other mountain chains by a large plain, and by another plain connecting Kiautschou Bay with the Gulf of Tschili it is separated in two. The protectorate lacks navigable rivers. The hinterland borders on the Hwangho.

Climate : Highest temperatures 33 degrees Celsius, lowest minus 11 degrees Celsius. Average annual rainfall over 500 mm.

Flora : Cultivated plants : grain, beans, potatos, tobacco, fruit trees, also cotton. Forests, because of Chinese maladministration, destroyed. The Germans reforest the area near Tsingtau; the Chinese learn reforestation.

Fauna : The Kiautschou area has few animals. In spring and autumn many migratory waterfowl pass by. Attempts to introduce European domesticated animals failed so far. Cattle raised here are also exported.

Minerals : The Schantung-Bergbau-Gesellschaft (Shandong Mining Company) began to work the Wei-hsien coal deposit on October 1st 1902. The first coal train arrived in Tsingtau on October 30th 1902. Ever since, the exploitation of the Wei-hsien coal field progresses at the pit Fang-Tse. For the processing of the coal, a mechanical separation apparatus has been established. A second pit, Minna Schacht, located ca. 70 m distant from Fang-tse, has been opened. Work on the establishment of a second main hauling pit, Annie Schacht close to the station of Fang-tse has begun in 1904. In the coal field of Po-schan the establishment of a pit (Tse-tschwan Schacht) was begun this summer. The coal is partially suited for steamer fuelling. However, the enterprise was unprofitable and has been taken over by the Schantung Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft (Shandong Railway Company).
In addition iron ore has been found; the exploitation will be begun soon.

Trade And Transportation : a large port with piers, swimming dock (capacity 16,000 tons) and shipyard facilities is, for the larger part, completed. The railway reaching from Tsingtau inland connects to the coal fields of the Schantung-Bergbau-Gesellschaft near Wei-hsien and Po-schan and further until Tsinan-fu (435 km). The first train arrived at Tsinan-fu on February 23rd 1904. The entire line, including the branch lline to Po-schan valley, operates since July 1st 1904. Tsinan-fu is located along the line Tientsin-Pu-kou.
The hinterland produces many important products for the export to Europe, especially baskets etc., peanut oil, brushes, silk pongees. More than 80 % of the imports are delivered by railway into the interior. The free port, which hitherto covered the entire protectorate (p.31), has been limited by agreement with the Chinese government of January 1st 1906 to the port and an adjacent stretch of land. The remaining territory, for the purpose of simpler trade, has been attached to Chinese customs territory.
Total export from Oct. 1st 1903 to Oct. 1st 1904 about 14,7 million Mark. 1904/05 about 20 million M., 1905/06 about 23,5 million M., 1906/1907 over 34 million M., 1907/08 : 32,5 million M., 1908/09 : 47,5 million M., 1910/11 : about 64,6 million M., 1911/12 : ca. 74 million M. Total import of goods on non-Chinese origin (without railway and mining equipment) 1903/04 : about 24 million M., 1904/05 about 37 million, 1905/06 : over 50 million, 1906/07 : over 61,5 million, 1907/08 : 38 million, 1908/09 : 45,8 million, 1910/11 : about 56 million, 1911/12 : about 62 million. Total import of goods of Chinese origin 1904/05 : over 12 million, 1905/06 : over 15 million, 1906/07 : almost 21 million, 1907/08 : 17,5 million, 1908/09 : 23,7 million, 1909/10 : 25,9 Millionen, 1910/11 : 28,7 million, 1911/12 : about 44 million Mark. According to the Chinese maritime customs statistical table, the import of goods of non-Chinese origin - except railway and mining equipment - amounted to 41,893,683 Dollars, as comnpared to 30,902,219 Dollars in 1912. The import of goods of Chinese origin decreased; the figure was 15,301,081 Dollars (as compared to 22,064,745 Dollars in the previous year). This has, except the political situation, to be explained with the lower prices for certain goods as compared to the previous year. The export amounted to 37,566,540 Dollars (as compared to 37,002,456 Dollars the year before). Total trade thus amounted to 94,761,304 Dollars, as compared to 89,979,420 Dollars the previous year. The most prominent import articles are cotton products and cotton yarn, petrol, anilin dyes, paper, sugar, matches, metals, railway construction material. Exported are mainly straw products, peanut oil, peanuts, silk and silk pongees, cotton, beans, skin, slaughtered animals, fruit etc.
Navigation : In 1906/07 498 steamers with a total storage of 547,000 tons entered the port of Tsingtau. 1907/08 432 (of which 211 German) with 520,000 tons, 1908/09 511/263/670,000, 1909/10 : 568/807,000; 1910/11 : 590 / 1,026,000; 1911/12 : 727 / 1,136,000 tons.
Post & Telegraph Service : by the end of 1913 : 10 postal offices, 8 of which with telegraph service and 2 with local telephone service. 37 km overland telegraph lines; 1160 km underwater cables. 1911 2,326,300 letters were delivered, 23,472 postal money orders over a total sum of 966,996 M., 40,168 parcels, 240,769 newspaper issues, 97,430 telegrams, 1,149,469 telephone calls. Postal connection three times a week, delivery via the Suez Canal 33-36 days, via Siberia 14-15 days. Telegram fee per word 3,65 M. In addition a radio telegraphic station near Tsingtau.  

GM (digitalisation) and AG (translation) 
posted on the web for psm-data; many thanks to

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin / Preußischer Kulturbesitz 

Kartenabteilung

Dokument in deutscher Sprache