Two Battle-Cruisers in Shanghai on World Tour: Development of Colonial Relations An enthusiastic reception was extended to the French battle-cruisers, Jules Michelet and Victor Hugo, by M. Wilden,—the Consul-General, and prominent members of the French community, upon their arrival in the Huangpu on Saturday afternoon. The cruisers are commanded by Admiral Gilly, a veteran of French colonial wars in China and the Pacific, and who served with distinction as Chief-of-Staff of the Cannoniers Marius" from 1914-1916 on the western front. At present Admiral Gilly heads 2 joint naval and civilian mission whose object is to cement the ties binding the Orient and the Occident, as well as to stimulate the economic life in the French colonies, thereby enlarging the trade possibilities with France.
The various ministries have appointed representatives, including M. Petrequin (Trade), M. de Vitry D'Avaucourt (Public Works), and M. Chauvel (Foreign Affairs), to ce-operate with Admiral Gilly. M. Guyon, formerly Governor-General of madagascar, represents the Colonial Minister, and has devoted his entire attention to the study of reciprocal exchange of products between France, the French Colonies and the neighbouring foreign colonies or states. In order to permit foreign manufacturers and merchants to obtain an idea of the extent of French industries, an exhibition of coloured photographs has been arranged on board the Jules Michelet, which, although of necessity somewhat limited, due to the military character of the cruiser, nevertheless is exceptionally interesting, in showing how France has recuperated after the war.
The cruisers sailed from Brest last. October on a round-the-world cruise which included Port Said, Djibouti, Madagascar, Reunion Island, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia,, Japan and China, more than 23,000 nautical miles in 160 days. During the two weeks' visit to Shanghai, the members of the mission will visit several of the large industrial mills and silk filatures,- and will. hold informal' conferences with leading French exporters and importers, as well as with- the business men of other
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.