The danger resulting from the use of foreign flags on steamers trading along the Upper Yangtze, to which we drew attention on August 19, has oldeady received illustration. In the article we published it was pointed out that in view of such foreign protection being given to Chinese-owned craft the military of the region might decide to disregard the flag, knowing the real ownership, and a ease of this has now occurred.
News has been received in Shanghai that the steamer Shuhun, Chinese-owned but flying—the French flag, has been commandeered by the military for use as a trooper. No further details are available, but the news 1s significant enough in itself.
Speculation is now rife in Shanghai as to whether the French gunboat Dondart de Lagree was not upon her way to take action in the matter when she was wrecked. The fact that she has been wrecked leaves the boats under the French flag without the protection of any French gunboat, and a question that is being asked is whether the men-of-war of other nationalities can them. It is understood That a number of such boats attempted to secure British registration but failed, and the logical course now, it is suggested, is that British gunboats cannot render them assistance in matters of political import such as a commandeering by the military.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.