There was a crowd several rows deep the whole stretch of the Sungari Pristan to watch the motorboat races, whilst the Yacht Due premises were overcrowded and hundreds watched the boats in their struggle from crafts of all. sorts This kind of sport has made enormous strides during the past. few years, and there are now quite dig fleet of fast boats on the river. The racing was exciting and exhilarating, and much enjoyed and the public judging from the applause, there were no mishaps, b yond one motor-boat suddenly stopping whilst going very fast indeed and when an apparent winner, the skipper being flung into the water, but got off with nothing worse than a ducking.
There was also a big attendance at the Stadium where young Russian and Chinese athletics were contest: ing their respective prowess in races and events of a varied sort. Unfortunately again the meet, towards the finish, was marred by a regrettable incident. A Chinese policoman—-they are often very officious ruck a young Russian, who had taken a seat on the stand, thinking that as he had arrived so Jate he had got into the grounds over the fence, though actually the Russian showed a ticket, Another Russian taking the part of his com: patriot knocked the policeman down, the latter got up and taking out his sword from the scabboard, landed the bare blade on the head of the unfortunate Russian, causing a nasty gash and began blowing his police-whistle, This started a general fight, whilst'a Chinese getting hold of megaphone started erying out "Beat the Russians", The greater part of the crowd becoming alarmed made a rush for: the gates where a large number of police stood and as the public wei
Sty]etors of the law" without distin won, There were a few for-wore hit about by the eigners who were molested, melad: ing, s0 the report goes, a Consul.
they protested. the police apologized "for. mistaking, them. for Russians", After.-the..crowd had evaporated, the police. then porceed-ed to arrest several young Russian sportsmen whom they, marched. off in bunch to the Police Headquarters, where they were detained till.quite 2 late hour, until. the. Head of. the Educational' Dept, who is in charge of all Harbin's playgrounds, secured their release, As such incidents do much harm to sport and sporting _instinels generally, which: the. majority of both Russians and Chinese. have much to learn about, it, is. to. be hoped that proper measures. are taken to prevent their, repetition, and it is certainly. up to the poli authorities to give strict, instruc: tions to their force, that they are present to see that law and order is preserved, and it is. their. duty. to stop and not provoke incidents, should they occur.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.