One of the items of news which constantly recurs is the firing on foreign steamers ip the upper reaches of the Yangtze. A man who has just come down from a trip in that region—a British sub-Jeet of considerable experience in nautical matters—suggests that some of it at any rate is practically justified, and in feisness to those doing the firing his views ought to receive publicity. TI jeamers were going up the n were passing number of junks carrying sold 'Two of the boats went past the jun} at full speed, and the wash they raised was so' great that the boats were in actual danger of being swamped. The third—a British amer—slowed down and navi tion proceeded on all sides with comfort. In the case of the first] two ships the soldiers in the june opened rifle fire on them, and that they did so as a protest against what could be termed nautical di courtesy is shown by the fact that the third steamer was neither fired nor molested. Personally the observer in question considered that the way the leading boats steamed past the junks was unjustifiable, and there seems a zood deal to be suid for his contention in view of the subsequent phases of the episode. The true spirit of the sea, which should be carried into the vigation of these rivers, is one of give and take, and it ix especially on the upper waters of yangtze, To navigate these, power, and when this i gardies of the convenience of other craft on the river, and perhaps to their danger, there is likely! to be protest.' Further, when those protesting armed, the objection to such _con-duet will probably be backed up by something more than words. Tt is good to have the views of an observer such ax this, for whatever we do we should be fair.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.