Two Launchings to Take Place this Year Messrs, Butterfield & Swire in agents of the navigation Ca. have embarked on an intensive scheme for supplementing their fleet with up-to-date steamers. For some time past rumours have been in the air Yegarding such a project but nothing definite could be established. Now that two steamers named jan and the Tsinan are at. present almost ready for launching.
Hongkong and are to be placed on the Hongkong-Shanghai run. The Tsinan will, in all probability be launched in November and it is expected that by January she will placed on the regular run. These two steamers will be the first of a class which is to be established. Further, a "W" class vessel is also approved and the engines for this vessel are already being constructed Hongkong at the Taikoo Dock} where the other two vessels are in the course of completion. This "W" class steamer is to be placed on the Hankow-Ichang run and accordingly will be a shallow draft vessel.
It is also stated that four other vessels are in the course of construction at Home and that the [company proposes to scrap a portion of the fleet when these ships become available,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.