With a small party of American Embassy officials and some divers on board, the U.SS, Oahu, sister ship of the ill-fated USS, Panay. sailed for Nanking yesterday morning, bound for the fallen Chinese capital and for the scene of the bombing incident which stirred the world, The Embassy officials, who are to open up the Embassy offices at Nanking, consist of Mr. John M, Allison, Third Secretary, Mr, James Espy, Vice-Consul and Mr, A. A. McFadyen, Mr. Allison was formerly Consul at Dairen.
The Oahu sailed from her berth alongside the U-S.S, Augusta at about 7 o'clock yesterday morning, and is expected to arrive off Nanking by late this evening, This, however, will depend on circumstances. The' level of the river is falling rapidly, In addition, mine-sweeping opera-lions are still continuing, as it is believed that the river between Woosung and Nanking is still very much alive, Arrangements for the safe conduct of the U.S, S. Oahu were made with the Japanese naval authorities, and she was to pick up a Japanese destroyer, and possibly a mine-sweeper as well, as escort, The Oahu will stop at Nanking to enable the American Embassy officials to go ashore and open the Embassy buildings, and will then proceed to the scene of the bombing of her sister gunboat, There she will anchor while divers will go down and examine the Panay. It is too early yet to say whether or not she can be salvaged, or whether this possibility is even contemplated,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.