The report no sooner came in here than it was clear to all nationalities that a second expedition to recover the steamers and police the rivet and the ports was imperatival called for. Every resident of thi city and every naval officer feels that if another expedition does not proceed up river at once to complete the cleansing of the Gorges, there will be 10 alternative for forel residents but complete © evacuation of Szechuan. This feeling is shared by officers and civilians of all nationalities, and" Peking is being watched with real trepidation for fear thee will be the usual conciliatory meddling.
The Cockchafer, Widgeon, Teal, Scarab and Mantis are in Tchang preparing for the next expedition and arrangements are being made here to send up a really effective force after the arrival of the Haw-
Hankow, Sept. 10.
The American gunboats Palos} and Pigeon set out for Ichang this morning and were given the further support of the destroyer Stewart for a few miles through the danger zone above Hanyang and Wuchang. Two merchantman accompanied them in convey, When they came. abreast of the Cantonese encampments above Wuchang about 6 am. they' were greeted by the usual machine gun and rifle fire. Whether or kins, It is hoped to make a start from here on Sunday. In discussing this prospective exploit with mi sionaries, both British and American, the writer has been assured by all that there could be no alternative to this expedition which would not be calamitous.
Chungking Quiet Report, of what has gone on in Szechuan since the bombardment of Wanhsien are meagre and strangely contradictory. It was at first reported from American sources. that, Chungking was so hostile that foreigners were taking refuge in the Standard Oil premises under the protection of the gunboats. A Brit ish message, sent a little inter, represented the conditions as 40 Serious that complete evacuation of all foreigners wag contemplated. But now another message has come in from an American source claiming that Chungking has been wholly indifferent and that there has not been a trace of anti-foreign feeling. Many of the local residents, perhaps the majority, have friends and business associates in Szechuan and are naturally greatly concerned for their safety, watching the preparations for what is locally called Chapter Two" with great imnot the merchantmen were hit is not known, but each of the gu boats and the destroyer were hi about 30, times. The Stewart first] replied with machine gun fire, but this had no effect, so she picked out a building on the Hanyang shore to be congregated and registered a fair hit with a four-inch gun, a parently doing no little damage. The firing stopped abruptly and was not resumed when the Stewact later came down stream. Just above the scene of action the con-[voy came upon the steamer Kiang-we bringing the wounded members lof the British expedition back from Ichang. The Stewart offered her, Jcenvoy to Hankow but the captain said he preferred to wait' until ry
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.