A letter has been received from Saigon describing the progress of the first Shanghai volunteer contingent's journey homeward. Starting from Hongkong, the Polynésien, says the writer, had reached the mouth of the harbour when what. seemed to be a mine exploded about sixty yards from the ship. "We continued gaily on, however, and a few minutes after another explosion occurred just by us and sent water in some quantity ov: the deck. We stopped at once, and soon after am order came from the Captain to don life-belts, A bad panic started. A submarine came up and chased us back to Junk Bay, where we were told that we should have been flying " certain signal. We proceeded to hoist it, and continued on our way."
At Hongkong the men received telegram from the Light Horse "'cheering us on our way." Saigon was reached on October 3, and the Governor went aboard and shook handy with the men and invited them to @ reception at Government. House, an invitation which was promptly accepted and greatly appreciated. A local newspaper celebrated the occasion with a laudatory article, observing amongst other things that some members of the party were very rich and had thrown up good billets to go to the war, whilst others "lived from hand to mouth," but that all were happily " pigging it" together in the third class. V. Davies, who had been unwell during the journey to Saigon, had to be taken to hospital on arrival there, and the letter does not say whether or not he wag able to proceed on the voyage.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.