Another 1,500 refugee soldiers were shipped on hoard the Japanese steamer Bunmel Maru, which left Shanghai for Tsingtao on Monday evening, from the French Bund. These men have been taken from the Avenue Haig camp and arrange ments are being made to clear that place of all the remaining soldiers to-day fare under Negotiations Fleet, but at present the authorities fare awaiting word from Peking. the event of this being refused it fs hoped to obtain another Japanese of large mat sheds have been put up at the Avenue Haig camp and these and the improvement in the weather conditions have done much to lighten the lot of the men, 40 that, Judging from Chinese standards, they have had little to grumble at und have on the whole comed fairly content. The prospect of leaving their quarters apparently raised no comment. At about 1.50 pam. some 80 lorries arrived on the scene. These were formed in Tong queue stretching for some distance along Avenue Haig. A atrong squad of Annamite—police were lined up near the entrance to the camp and these, with the American marines, ' formed effective guard. The men, however, gave little trouble and the process of entraining them continued for tome hours without incident, The. first batch of five lorries moved off shortly after two o'clock vid. Avenue Joffre to the French Bund. They were accompanied by carload of armed police, besides an armed guard on each truck.
On arrival at the quayside the soldiers were marshalled ina long Vine and remained standing until the authorities were able to get them aboard. A large number of Soldiers seemed to recognize innumerable friends on a neighbouring pontoon, these possibly, in spite of their civilian garb, having possibly also soon military ser The Bunmei Maru carries number of ordinary passengers. It is understood that the soldiers have boon sent away unescorted, There now remain tome 3,000 soldiers at the Avenue Haig camp and about 1,000 at Gordon Road. At present no definite arrangements have been made for their removal. noon found herself approaching what appeared to be an artillery engagement. One or two shells fell quite near, and the captain very properly turned her round and proceeded back to Nanking. The staumers there which were on the point of Teaving were notified of the trouble, and a report was made to H. M.S. Scarab. A convoy was formed and the Scarab later on escorted the merchant vessels through Deer Island Passage, By this time all was quiet, and the Wenchow and other steamers arrived safely in Shanghai yesterday.
It is not known what particular engagement wus in progress when the Wenchow arrived on the scene near Chinkiang, but it is believed that the troops there were then under considerable apprehension as to the arrival of transport contain ing hostile forces und were profbubly keeping up fire when any steamers have in aight. As the scene of military operations has Now moved inland it Is not expect~ ed that any further action of a liar kind will take place there id shipping movements are not being interrupted.
The fear of transports landing. troops at different points along the river is evidently strong in the'
ids of Chi Hsieh-yuan's force. A British steamer inward bound reached Woosung about 5 am. yesterday, while it was dark, and she was stopped by a shot across liber bows? Apparuntly there is no intention of taking any chances,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.