German 7.5cm Geb K Krupp L/14, export to China?

[Vasco Da Gama]

Thanks to Alpini when I saw this case I knew it was for the Krupp mountain gun of the late 1890’s which saw service in WW1 with at least German, Turkish and Bulgarian forces, 75mm mouth, rim 88mm and length 118mm. The oriental characters caught my eye, hence the purchase; I have not come across a base marking layout of this type. With a magnifying glass I think there are 3 words separated by 3 stars. I have tried to identify the characters both in terms of Japanese and Chinese with little luck. However, I currently favour Chinese over Japanese.

Now for the theory, at the start of WW1 Japanese forces seized the capital (Tsingtau) of the German colony in China, the Kiautschou concession after a short siege. A single British battalion (2nd Battalion South Wales Borders) took part in the siege. I found this case in North Wales, could it be a souvenir of the siege of Tsingtau? The gun is of the right time and was widely exported; did German colonial forces use it and did Germany bother to put Chinese characters on the ammunition?

Ready to be told the characters are Japanese! Pictured alongside a composite case for the same gun for interest.

 

[Alpini]

Theres an explanation of the stamps in some forum, maybe here. I remember it was made in Shanghai or it was a arsenal stamp of this city but of course I am not sure if it was exactly the same stamp. Most artillery pieces of China 1860's - 1910's were made by Krupp. There's a good german language book written by a Chinese woman about Krupp's relations to China which lists most deliveries of guns to China.

 

[Vasco Da Gama]

Many thanks Alpini, the key word was Shanghai! If entered in the search engine the thread comes up with a picture of a similar case.

 

[Alpini]

Ahh perfect!

 

[Vasco Da Gama]

Managed to find a Chinese friend who was willing to have a go at deciphering the characters. This is more difficult than I realised as they are traditional Chinese rather than the simplified version introduced under the communist regime, post 1947. There are 3 phrases separated by stars, one tells us the case was made in Shanghai, the second was translated as cartridge case and figures for 75 which makes sense. The final phrase was made in the Qing dynasty in 1907.

 

[Vasco Da Gama]

Found further information after an internet trawl, the Krupp Model 1904 mountain gun was manufactured by the Jiang Nan Manufacturing Bureau in Shanghai with 494 examples being made between 1907 and 1928. Potentially a couple of pictures of the gun in service below.