As soon as the Soviet government make satisfactory arrangements regarding their confiscation of Bger-Jsheld and other C.E.R. property at Vladivostok, the Chinese authorities will be willing to discuss the question of the river fleet. If the Soviet government would like to purchase the properties at Viadivostock, the Chinese government had no objection. ang would then take the river fleet jas part of the payment, the value lof the Egersheld property being about ten million dollars and that of the river fleet from two to three million, both at original cost, though the fleet was now of less value.
The C.E.R. Board having given in. structions to the general manager to make a complete inventory of the river fleet and property belonging to it, the work of carrying over was, carried out by specialists appointed the railway and marine authorities. So well did they work and in such harmony, that the whole of the transfer was fully completed in four days and Admiral Shen expressed himself as well satisfied with the manner in which everything had been carried through.
Admiral Shen drew particular} attention to the fact that no property of any kind excepting that connected with the river fleet had been taken, over, though of course this included warehouses and the premises where the servants lived, landing stages ete, No property of the Commercial or Supply Departments of the C.E.R. lad been touched. Goods which were some of the warehouses and belong Harbin, Sept. 3.
The cholera situation in this city is fast improving and with the advent of the cooler season it is certain to return to normal. The disease was first brought here it is believed by @ Russian traveller from Shang-where it originated. This first victim travellea vid Newchwang on July 23 and proceeded to Harbin by the South Manchuria and Chinese Eastern Railways. Subsequently in {the native city three cases were dis-
Perhaps it is not altogether right to blame Shanghai for the epidemic in Harbin. Hygienic conditions here fare not always on a high level and moreover there are countless pedders who sell drinks and refresh: ments of a questionable character. According to one medical authority, the drinking of unhygienfcally-made Jkvas has resulted in many local leases, The Russian formula of a cure is to drink vodka in which pepper has been mixed but it is an irony that recently some persons died through drinking this "cure" more than through the discase "itself, the vodka having been made in' the native city from some poisonous compound of spirits. Not only do they make vodka there but "claret," "brandies," "whisky," ete. ang the labels of well-known makers are often duplicated, with the exception of the name of the manufacturer 'Thus we have "James Maggie & Ca, Madeira," "Fotd Walton Francis, Chang' fof bootlegging is done acu border with Siberia and a. Targe number of contrabandists daily risk their lives in following their calling.
MuxDEN, Sept, 6—The first case of cholera, a Korean, was discovered jin the Japanese Concession yester=
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.