3-085-635 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Chinese Crisis: positions of Port Arthur and Kiau-Chiau, occupied by Russia and Germany, 1898. 'The scramble for the ports of Northern China goes on apace, and the plot of the political situation in the Far East thickens day by day. Germany remains in possession of the valuable Yellow Sea port of Kiao-Chau...two more German war-ships have sailed for Chinese waters under the command of Prince Henry of Prussia, who was sped on his voyage from Kiel by the German Emperor, in a high-flown speech entrusting him with "the transmarine mission" of the German Empire, whatever that may be...In view of the fact that Great Britain commands some four-fifths of China's total commerce, it is, of course, of the utmost importance that the balance of European power in the Chinese Empire shall undergo no material change. The establishment of Russia and Germany in either united or divided command of the Gulf of Pechili must, before long, deal a severe blow to British interests in Northern China, even if Russia or Germany were likely to remain content with their newly found ports...any move on the part of Russia, Germany, or either of the other Great Powers which threatens a redistribution of naval strength in the Far East must be strongly checked by England'. From "Illustrated London News", 1898.