Tsingtao, Aug. 25.
At 3.30 p.m. on Friday I left by motor-boat for Huchow, to meet a party coming by houseboat from Mokanshan. We reached Huchow at midnight, after a very easy run. We stopped' alongside the gunboats of both Kinngsu and Chekiang, reporting our business, ete., and received the greatest courtesy in pas sing through the two lines. The houseboat reached Huchow at noon, and we returned yesterday afternoon, arriving at Soochow at 8.30 pan." On our return we did not stop, but merely slowed down in passing through the lines, the officers bow-. ing to us very courteously.
From here to the Chekiang lines, not a vat was to be seen on the Grand Canal except troop boats. Practically no farmers were in the fields, and it was said that. practically two-thirds of the population of the various towns had But over in Chekiang business med to be going along fairly Well, and almost as many boats were moving on the canals During the morning yesterday saw hundreds and hundreds of people, Jeaving Huchow by boat.
There is not very much to report from Soochow, except that the people are still very nervous. The majority of the stores are open, little or no business is going on. it] During the past three days many more coo! have been taken by the soldiers, ud carried to the several fronts as foreed labourers. Sonic seen to be treated very roughly. On Pviday three coolies in 1g from ithe soldiers jumped from a bridge. One was drowned, [another crushed his ribs in the so that he died soon after.
lies oF acevant, is free from danger of being made eapnot a badge from the police, giving his name, address, and his employment. Even many "North River" sewing women have been forced into sewing for the troops.
There seemed to be very few sol Chikiange, and no warlike] far as I could see; but it is quite a different story in Kiangsu. At Pingmong yesterday afternoon T met two large boats, Toaded with quite heavy field guns, being moved up to the front.
ising.
Food prices in Soochow. daily
Just now (at 11.50 am.) there was great excitement when a large hi-plane (twin motors) passed over. the city, from the direction of Nanking, and flying toward Kashing.
A dinner party unique in the annals of Tsingtao took place here on Friday when officers of the British, Japanese, French and Ttalian' men-of-war, now lying at} anchor in Kiaochou Bay, were the guests of Governor Kao En-hung.
was a brilliant and cos. mopolitan gathering. Nearly all the visiting naval officers were present, and also Admiral Wen Xhou-teh, Deputy Governor Hsiao; Mr. Chang, Chief of Police; Mtr. Tien, representative of Marshal Wa Pei-fuy and the British and Japan ese Consuls, At the conclusion of the dinner, the Governor made a speech of welcome, Admival, Sir Arthur Leveson spoke on, behalf of the visiting naval officers. He warmly thanked the Tupan and congratulated hima upon the progressive character of his administration and the eompetent men with whom he had sure rounded himself, There are 13 vessels in Admiral Leveson's squadron, Two French men-of-war ave here, ans thave are also the Japanese battleship Tone and an Italian cruiser:
addition several divisions of the American Asiatic Fleet are expect-within afew days. These vessels are now at their summer base at Chefoo, Not for y so many visiting men-2f this summer-—Rever'e Paeife Service.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.