Passengers' Views Divided on Again Under New Management:
Strength of Kuominchun Now Purely Chinese Con-
Hold of Tientsin trol: Foreign Associates Although rumours had been current that the China Merchants' str. Hsinming had been commandeered by the Kubminchun armies in Tientsin, the steamer came into Shanghai on Saturday morning and those on board denied any knowledge of the supposed! seizure. representative of the "North-China-Daily News" went to the vessel when she arrived and interviewed several of the passengers.
One said that. the Kuominchun were sufficiently strong to beat off any: concerted attack by the Shantung-Chihli forces and the Fengtien forces. Everything was normal Tientsin when he left and almost everybody had the utmost confidence in the Kuominchun to protect them.
But another gentleman said that} he was not quite so sure about the Kuominchun's strength as the army was very much divided. Ti tsin, be thought, was safe in thi hands, spite of the fact that the Fengtien army had sent gunboats and reinforcements to Taku. One gunboat was sighted when the Hai ming left Tientsin, Some jur and smaller craft had been come mandeered for transport services.
However, none of the China Merchants" steamers left port for the north during the week-end and until telegrams are received reporting that everything is sate it likely that any of these ships. will be sent north just now.
Invitations wore issued. a few days ago for a dinner to be given by "the Stewards of the Chineve Jockey Club" at the Union Club fon Sunday evening. About 100 guests attended, m: hazy idea as to the hosts. They found themselves the company of practically all the senior Chinese jockeys and most of the leading Chinese owners in the International Recreation Club, and spent a very pleasant evening. Me. Edward Sheng was in the chair.
After dinner there were a number of speeches, translated by Mr. Chang. Nieh-yun for the benefit of the foreigners. It was an open secret that the foreign section of the Yangtszepoo Race Club recently had resigned and it was learnt throught Mr. Chang that another group of Chinese racing men had taken over the control of the course. They have been busily engaged during recent weeks and have made stich progress with their scheme that they propose holding their opening voce meeting this month.
The present owners of the course tha Mar Eastern Recreation Club and the ground has been leased from them for the purposes of racing by the Chinese Jockey Club, which is to be a purely Chinese Jeoncorn as regards management, al. though foreigners will be allowed to join as associates with all the privileges of the club except as to management. Mr, 'T. U. Yih haa been elected the first Honorary President and it is understood that Mr.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.