Great, satisfaction is expressed here at the decision of the P. & O. Company to use Marseilles as the Continental port of call instead of Brindisi. The satisfaction is increased by the reflection that France will gain at the expense of the Italians, whom the French do not love. Of course, the change is due solely to the short-sighted policy of the Italian government failing to carry out the required harbour improvements at Brindisi. The mails will still take that route, and be carried in small fast steamers direct to Port Said. A limited number of passengers will also, I understand, be conveyed by these steamers at higher fares, but all the other overland From the point of view of the passenger sengers will go rid Marseilles and Calais.
returning home to England from China, the change will have the advantage of facilitating a visit to Paris, and many people will no doubt avail themselves of the opportunity. It will he necessary for the P. & O. Ca., to make arrangements for a special train to leave Marseilles soon after the arrival of the steamer, the ordinary express. service being poor and often entailing a long wait at Marseilles, 19th November.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.