Relative to a paragraph that has already appeared in these columns concerning the three interned Japanese—_ gunboats Fushima, Sumida, and Toba, which, it was reported are to be got ready to be re-commissioned, it may be stated on information received from an authoritative source that these three river war-craft are expected to go into dock within a few days. The three are now lying on the Pootung side at the Japanese Naval Jetty.
The Sumida was being overhauled at the docks of the New Engineering and Shipbuilding Works in 1914 at the time Japan entered the war, and as it was necessary to intern such Japanese warships as could not enter the high seas, the Sumida and the other two river gunboats were dismantled and detained here. Work on the repairs of the Sumida was discontinued at that time, but it is now understood that not only is the work on this vessel to resumed at once but that the Toba and Fushima are also to be overhauled.
The authority from whom this information is obtained states that the Japanese Government secured the necessary permission from the Peking Government toward the close of last year, and it is understood that the work is to be under the direction of the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha and that the New Engincering Ca. are to do the work which will take 8 month or so to "—nlete It is not believed that the Japanese Government have any intention of immediately putting these little warships into commission, but that they are simply to be put into ''shipshape" condition in order that they may be prepared for any eventuality.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.