Der Kampr um Tsrvorao. Von Konteradmiral Waldemar Vollerthun.
(Leipzig: Hirzel, 44 marks.)
The defence of Tsingtao in the autumn of 1914 is not a glorious episode in the German annals. Though a modern fortress carefully elaborated in peace-time, with ferry-concrete shelters and magazines, which, as Konteradmiral Vollerthun boasts,—successfully resisted the heaviest Japanese artillery (liin. howitz ers and i2in, naval guns) and though possessing an armament at Jeast equal in range and superior in number to that of the attackers, it capitulated after a shorter bombardment than that endured by Liege, Maubeuge, or Antwerp, and of exactly the same length as that of the ancient fortress of Longwy—seven days. Yet these French and Belgian fortresses had no cover that could resist the Austro-German artillery, not even one shell-proof casement for the general in command, and no guns that could reach the besiegers' batteries and knock them out, or bring down the observation balloons, as did the Tsingtao artillery.
The author of this history of the defence was present as a captain throughout. the siege, acting as Chief Intelligence Officer; and as his book has only just been published, though the preface is dated October 1, 1919, he must have heard of the bombardments in Europe; yet he holds up tha garrison of Tsingtao as heroes for German admiration, and on their behalf he incites his fellow-countrymen to demand the return of "this colony, the pride and darling of the German people. And the many millions—they were 200—which were thrown into it and promised to bear rich fruit." With the archives of the fortress at his disposal, helped out by his
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.