In view of the persistent. rumours of trouble in the vicinity of Shanghai, Mr. S. K. Chen, Secretary to Admiral Tsiang Tsen, Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Section of the Chinese Fleet, wishes to assure the public that there is no political significance in the recent departure of cruisers from Shanghai waters.
Chinese men-of-war of the Northern Section according to recent telegrams are patrolling the Shantung coast, The fact that the cruisers Haickou and Haiyung were a few days ago sent by Admiral Tsiang from this port to the vicinity of Tsingtao does not indicate that they will operate with the ships which are supposed shortly to render assistance to the Chihli faction. The two men-of-war from Shanghai were to have been despatched to Tsingtao some time ago in connexion with the reinstatement of Chinese jurisdiction at the former German. port. Admiral Tsiang has sent the two war vessels to Houkou, near Tsingtao, as there was recently trouble in the former port which had no bearing on the war in the north,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.