Waung said that Admiral Tsiang Tseng, Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet, was in complete accord with General Bilo as evidenced by their telegram of a few days ago. However, there were some members of: the Navy who favoured joining the Chihli party, while others were firm for neutrality.
Mr. Tachuen S. K. Loh, chief foreign secretary to General Ho Feng-ling, said that General Ho has definitely decided not to be drawn into the quarrel, therefore; no action will be taken by the: Shanghai_ military authorities. General Ho will support neither party, but look after the interests of the people, he said.
The Navy, he continued, had announced their intention to remain neutral, but the departure of several gunboats might involve trouble later. The rs of the first and sions of the fleet—Admirals Lin Kien-chang and Tu Shih-kuei—differed in opinions, but the Commander-in-Chief had decid-od to remain neutral. The report that the Woosung Forts had been ordered to fire on any gunboats entering or leaving harbour is incorrect, said Mr. 7 Gvneral Hsu Kuo-liang, Chief of the Native Constabulary of Shang-) hai and Woosung, said "We havel received unofficial word that fighting has taken place at Machang, but no details are given.} We of the police do not care which side is in the right and which is in the wrong. All we care for is the peace and order of Shanghai and Woosung, the protection and safety of the people. We will not side with either party and we do not expect that any other party will interfere with us."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.