Cross-examined by Mr. Schuhl witness said that he had been in the Customs service for more than years and had had some experience with aeroplanes, the Chinese Government having imported machines om previous occasions. The Vickers-Maxim aeroplanes had been imported.
Mr. Schuhl—Do you know when ther they were for commercial purposes or otherwise?
Witness—I don't, Do you not know whether they were for a commercial mail service between Shanghai and Peking?—L don't.
Witness went on to relate that the machines, which had been bonded in Shanghai had been released, by order of the Customs at the) order of the Ministry of War, but they were listed as contraband articles. He admitted that radio sets, sulphur, saltpetre, and sporting guns were also included among the list of contraband articles. Shot guns were not. The machines in question were brought to Shanghai from America in June, last year.
Mr. Schuhl—Could they have been shipped on any vessel with the permit you mention!—Yes, Supposing they had been sent on a British or Japanese ship, could they have been seized by the American authoritles?—That is a big question which I cannot answer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.