For the trip out from Home, she!
officered by Captain J. E. Blay, MR. (master), Mr. L. L. Lawrence (mate), Mr. 'F. Hewlett! (second officer), Mr. G. Gair (chief! engineer), Mr. 'V. Almey (engineer for Messrs, "Thorneycrofts) and Mr. Macfarlane, an oil fuel expert. In addition the vessel carried a crew of 17.
Leaving Southampton in the Iatiter part of September, the Fushua completed the voyage to Hongkong in. 73 days, only 17 of which were spent in harbour. At full speed, ithe trip could have been accompli jed in a much shorter time, but in, view of the need for conserving fuel con the longer legs, and the dificult ties to be overcome in the matter lof adverse weather conditions and shallow draft, excellent progress was made and'the master and crew are to be congratulated on a fine feat of seamanship, as are the Duilders on the seaworthiness of the raft, An Inauspicious Start The trip commenced by no means; auspiciously, as once the English Channel was left and the Atlantic trollers of the Bay of Biscay were encountered, the Fushun. showed what she-could do in the matter of movement. Further south. better conditions were experienced, but between. Malta and Port Said she once more became a "wet" ship. Followed another calm spell as far as Aden. The trip across the Indian Ocean to Colombo brought more discomfort, with cyclones and storms throughout, but to Singapore Passage was smooth. Monsoon conditions prevailing, it was decided that the better route to Hongkong Would be vid Palawan Island and acconlingly this course was. taken, although the last stage of the Journey between Luzon amd Hong ug was. done in heavy weather.
Captain Blay was thoroughly satisfied.with the behaviour' of: the: Fashun throughout the perilous voy. age, When opportunity occurred, prohibited without permission.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.