Many blanks to the Wanhsien story are filled in by the followig description of the afair as sen by an Englishman ini the city, and given to the "Central' China Post" on Sept.
Our representative, yesterday, had an interesting interview with Wanhsien resident who was there throughout the incidents connected with the seizing of the ships. Yang Sen, the naval rescue party's operations, and the subsequent events until his escape from Wa hsien after a reward had been placed on his head, my sampan men away thus deprive ing me of means of—transport ashore. I- spoke to the Captain about dhe replied that he, with his ship, had been detained by General Yang Sen owing to the 'Wanliu' affair. "A little later about two dozen soldiers came and surrounded us and the Captain and the others were pointed out to them separately. We were then informed that we were not allowed to move: We were not even allow. ed to go to the bathroom or the cabins. On this made a request to the soldier in charge that permission should be granted for these purposes and it was given Since then I have learned that the soldiers would not allow the officers to eat or sleep because they would not supply the soldiers with cigarettes. These soldiers made, many insulting remarks! land picked their bayonets at us; 'The story as given to our repre~ sentative is a most interesting one, and fills' in blanks in the which previous reports on the Wanhsien episode. In connexion with the seizing of the 'Wabbsien' he heard that the Captain had declined to pay Yang Sen's dues because on a previous trip he had carried Yang 's soldiers as passengers and no payment had been made. This is the story current in Wanshien. On the Captain's refusal to pay 200 men were put on board, and after that episode the Commander of HIS. 'Cockchafer' took steps to try and insure the safety of the officers and men. This occurred on Friday, August 27.
The Start On Sunday, August 29, our in formant saw the str, 'Wanliu' arrive flying distress signals. Soon afterwards he heard machine-gun fire. Crossing the river he went on board the 'I-ping' which had followed the 'Wanliu' up river. On the way he held up by soldiers who threatened to shoot him for no] ostensible reason. Then, he saw! soldiers at the double taking up positions in open formation on the! foreshore with their rifles pointed at the Cockchafer, These were they also stated that they intended to shoot us as soon as the gunboat, fired on the city, and ther they were going to throw: oar bodies 1m) to the river, After five hours, dur-which time. the cothers hod taken the life buoys and life-belts away from the siges so that we could not take them ang jump overboard, a request was made to men who had just disembarked Yam# Sen for my release, and it arked as granted, from the ping.' At this point in the proceedings the 'Wanliu' heaved!
Gunboats Arrive up anchor and steamed away. When] On September 1, the str. 'Tien he got on board the 'I-ping' the|Kwang' arrived from Chungking Captain informed him that the! with HM. Consul on. board" and <a. 'Wanlit' was reported to have tied up against.
Cock-sunk two sampans of soldiers andi enater? also. a junk of soldiers inclu On. Friday, Sept. 3, HI. M. S.
couple of thousand silver|Widgeon' arrived' from Chung-dollars.
He also remarked that) king. The str.
'Tien Kwang' having he had been just behind her allieft, she, too, tied up alongside the way and had not seen any|H.MS. 'Cockchafer,' but the next! overturned sampans, ete., but he had|day moved up above the str. seen the s. 'Wanlin' refuse to|'Wantung. stop and pick up soldiers at Yun-yang, thus he had had to pick them up, cur informant continued.
On' Monday, August 30, T went]
board the Wantung."
Directly On Sunday, Sept. 5, I was informed that students had stopped Compradores selling to the British residents, to the gunboats or to steamers, any stores of any Tue Forwaxo Gun Turser or H. M. S. Cocxcnaren This photograph. shows here she was hit by the Somboriment ofthe Wanbeien shore batteries cleared for action. I was instruetled to look out for the str. 'Kiawo'
As she had not arrived at 5 o'clock I decide? to gd and visit my friends. On going outside I saw that my house was surrounded by, soldiers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.