Hankow, Feb. 3.
The Chinese papers here are commenting on the fact that some of the Japanese vernacular newspapers in Japan have suggested that the Japanese Admiralty consider the necessity of sending their ships to Chima to protect the lives of foreigners residing along the Yangtze valley. I have made careful inquiry of the Chinese officials at this place, as to how the Chinese Government would look upon this suggestion, and was informed that the Chinese Second Squadron is covering all the treaty ports on the Yangtze and that there is no reason whatever why foreigners should anticipate any occasion arising which would necessitate the calling in of foreign gunboats for their protection.
Information from official quarters is to the effect that the twenty-seven ships of the Qhinese 2nd Squadron, under command of Rear Admiral Baron Yoh were on Jam ary 98 stationed on the Yangtze in secordance with the following li Nanshing, Cruiser.
Kiangchin, River gunboat. Hungoh, Torpedo boat.
Kienan, River gunboat.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.