Owing to Wash-out qn S.M. Railway From Our Own Correspondent, Harbin.
A severe wash-out on the South Manchurian Railway, 15 to 20 miles south of Changchun, between the stations of Mengchiatun and Fanchiatun, took place on the morning of the 7th instant.
A local train was derailed and is still lying on its side on the spot. It appears that, owing to the incessant rains in the neighbourhood, the adjoining river flooded the fields and invaded the lowest part of the line south of Changchun: Immense damage was done, and the track at two points was completely washed away for more than a mile. One Polish traveller from Dairen said that, when he ascertained that the repairs would take days, he decided to wade through the swamp for over three miles and finally reached Changchun on the morning of the 9th.
Both northward and southward bound passengers were held up. The latter found suitable accommodation at Changchun, where most of them stayed over two days, No trams ran from the morning of the 7th until 10 o'clock on the morning of the 10th. The first batch of first-class passengers from the north to cross the repaired track were Mr. and Mrs. Bristow (Standard Oil Ca.,), Mr. Kelker (Baldwin Engine representative), Dr. Wu Lien-teh, Mr. Habegger (American Famine Relief worker, who had just left Russia to pass through China on his way home), and others. As it appeared to the "passing travellers, the damage done to the tracks was very great, extending for miles and miles.. Whole portions of the line had been washed to one side, rails broken and sleepers displaced. Nearly 2,000 coolies from Kungchuling and Changchun had been at work day and night for over 50 hours, and it speaks volumes for the skill of the Japanese engineers that they were able to repair the track, though only temporarily, for traffic to be resumed after a comparatively short delay. For several miles a new embankment had been made over the sunken line.
This present wash-out is probably the most serious that the South Manchurian Railway has experienced for a long time. The first through mail train reached Mukden at 2 a.m. on the 11th, instead of 9 p.m. of the previous day according to schedule.
Toxro, Aug. 11.—In view of certain wild rumours of the Prime Minister's resignation, his physicians have issued a statement regarding Admiral Baron Kato's health, which is regarded as reassuring:—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.