Mukden, Sept. 8.
The two aeroplanes, piloted by Germans, engaged in a preliminary survey which may lead to the establishment of a Berlin-China aerial service, arrived here to-day at 1.10
Harbin, Aug. 28.
Rumours are rife here that definite steps are about to be taken, by the Chinese authorities to take }fall control of the Chinese Eastern Railway. The rumours are vague land conflicting and the writer does not believe them. It is quite pos. sible however that the authorities will take over the telephone system now in the hands of the railway, seeing that it a very paying concern, and that the Chinese do not, see why a commercial enterprise such as the C. E.R. should have the: town telephone services in their hands, and reap profits that should belong to the town Sept. 2.
Representatives of the whole of the Harbin Press, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, British and American Were requested to meet at Admiral Shen's Headquarters, where he gave an explanation of the reasons why the Chinese authorities had taken over the C. E. R. Fleet. In his opening remarks the Admiral said that he had come to Harbin for " twofold reason, first to inspect the river flotilla and secondly to take over the GEXR, fleet and property connected therewith by instructions of Marshal Chang Tso-in.
Three years ago the navigation of the river Sungari river to the Russian flag was strictly forbidden and in consequence " of this, the entire C.E.R. fleet had lain idle all this time, not only deteriorating, but also'a heavy expense to the C. B, R, shareholders, a large staff having to be kept to look after the craft and other property. During the whole of this time, the C. E. R. Administration had not made any move whill would have satisfactorily settled the question, therefore the Chinese authorities, having for pre-lee dent, the seizure of Egersheld part jand 27 barges belonging to the CER, had decided to take over the entire C, E. R. river fleet.
In the ease of Egersheld the Soviet [government had given no notice of its intentions, but the Chinese! taking over the E.R. had given due notice to the C. E. R. Board and the President of the C.ER., thus doing everything in a legal manner. The Chinese government, being as much a shareholder in' the C.E.R. as the Soviet government, haq decided that the river craft should not be left to rot, Jand decay and therefore have taken them over for the purpose of saving, deterioration as well as further unnecessary expense to the CER,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.