The port had some days ago the unprecedented sight of two large British cruisers lying side by side in the harbour, the Durban and the Despatch. The former was on a special mission, carrying a Couneillor of the Embassy from Peking on a visit of investigation into the [condition of affairs. Which visit has been, Ifear, an object of mingled de-sion and indignation among the British in the port. The investigation, so far as outward appear-Muriel: Houben for qualifying a3
Word has just'been received that the British gunboats Moorhen and Tarantula which left for Nanning early in June, but were detained in Wuchow, resumed their journey this morning.
It will be remembered that following the murder of Mr. Philips of the A. P.C. on May 26th, and whose body, two days later, found floating down the river, the British Government ordered an investigation and gunboats were despatched to the scene of the tragedy. When the gunboats reached Wuchow an attempt was made to engage Chinete pilots to guide the against it no one came forward to the West river, but as the city had been placarded warning pilots against it no one came forward to offer their services. For almost two weeks the gunboats lay at an-char in the river while the Commander, with the utmost patience and self-restraint, carried on a continuous correspondence with the local officials seeking their assistance in the matter, but without any tangible results.
It did not seem appropriate in fa province where British prestige has been trampled underfoot; where right under the eyes of the auth-critics the consulate had been wrecked and ruined, and where Chinese were "beginning to feel that Britain was too weak to use force to protect her interest, to have the despised flag unfurled in the in" land waterways. Consequently all practi-patience was fed_the Secretary of cost of $1,600 each per week, and the official document added that, bit ant."
"This price is not considered exor=
This letter brought forth a ply couched in such terms as revealed British patience was exhausted and that, if the local authorities continued to place obstacles in the way of the gunboats proceeding on their journey to make the investigation, more than schoolboy tactics would be re+ serted to.
Tris letter had the desired effect, and before many hours had elapsed pilots had reported for duty, and the journey was resumed.
Acconpinc to the Chinese press, the Nagaeaki police seized Y.78, 00" ct contraband from the R. M, 8, Empress of Asia when she arrived in that port, the haul cluding pearls, gold tings, precious stones, silk goods and opium, Ca-eDveaTioN apparently, does not find favour with Ching's war lerds—highly moral individuals who have the welfare of their country deeply at heart, Marshal Wa Pei-tu is reported to have sent Mr.
Ko-kuo to Peking to consult with the Minister of Education concerning its prohibition, A REPRESENTATIVE meetin; Kuomintang is being held ton to discuss the present situation in the North. Gen. Chiang Kaishek, Gen. Tan Yen-kai, the Hunanese commander, and' Mr. Chang Ching-kiang, an old and prominent member of the Kuomi tang, are the leading figures at the conference. ance went consisted of a tiffin at the Consulate.
The distinguished visitor ever so much as set foot on the Swatow side, where a few objects of interest, such 2s the gutted shell of the Taikoo Club, of which, doors and windows and furniture' having long since gone, the floors are now being torn up to keep the home fires burning might have been shown to him; nor did he in any way get into sexious touch with the business men, who would no doubt have had muck to say if they had been given a chance. After half a day in the port he vanished again.into the blue, satisfied, it is said, that things were not nearly as bad'as they had been reported to be. We are inclined to.think that we know bet~
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.