According to a memorial from the Viceroy at Nanking it has been determined by himself and the Board of Admiralty to reduce the number of men or officers in the Southern Fleet in order to provide funds for the building of additional vessels, In consequence of this the Admiral in com mand, Kuo Pao-ch'ang, has suggested that his own post might be abolished. He represents that there are only six men-of-war exclusive of transports, and moreover it
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.