During the past few days the! various authorities concerned have been in conference with naval and military representatives and they have discussed all phases of the situation, in particular the measures which it may be necessary to take in the event of any. dis organized bodies of troops falling wack upon Shanghai. Generally speaking, these would take the form of a series of armed posts all round the border of the Settlement, close touch with each other, as' was done in the Revolution of 1913. Arrangements have already been made for the billeting out of officers along the boundaries, if so required.
In the event of their being needed it is probable that jo strong international force of sailors and marines would be landed from the numerous naval units that have arrived in the harbour and these would form a cordon around the Settlement. In addition they would mount guard over various strategic points and public utilities wit the city. The Race Club's new stables on Great Western Road have been placed at the disposal of the British force which would do duty on the outskirts, the owners of ponies stabled there having transferred their animals at short notice, It is further reported that H. M. 8. Hawkins, with Admit Leveson on board, is on her way to Shanghai and' it is presumed therefore that, as senior officer, he Would assume charge of the protection of, the Settlement, The following foreign n ave at present in Harbour:—British: Cruisers Despatch and Darban, gunboats Bee and Cricket.
American: Destroyers Bone, 'S. 'Thompson, Tracey, John D. ' Edwards, Barker and Whipple, and three others which arrived on' Tuesday. afternoon, Colmar and Jules Ferry. Both don Tuesday, Tealian: Cruise Japanese: Cruiser Tone and gunboats Uji and Hira, The Chinese Navy.
The Chinese Navy is known to have taken up three distinet~ positions. The cruiser Haichow and other vessels composing the so-called Independent Fleet, which is in sym ig, is lying the river at the Arsenal. The ships, which are on the side of Marshal Chi, and have s9 often een reported as coming to attack Woosuny, are in the Chusan Archipelugo, with a view to keeping off any supplies which may be sent down by Chang Tso-lin from Manchuria through Hangchow Bay for the benefit of Marshal Lu. The six river gunboats, also on the side of Marshal Chi, Rave moved down from Nanking to Kiangyin, at which point there is a very big land fort.
There was no sign. of activity at Woosung. yesterday, the position remaining quiet throughout the day. Several Chinese vessels leal entering port passed the forts without challenge.
The Chinese Telegraph Adminis-ration announces that all. landline communication between Shanghai and Soochow has been interrupted since yesterday morning.
Late yesterday afternoon the Shanghai-Nanking Railway issued a tice that all booking for Soochow and the north has been suspended until further notice. The Woosung service is continuing as usual.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.