At about 11.20, the hour fixed for: sailing, a flurry of firecrackers announced that the general excitement had reached a high pitch, and group of sergeants burst into an uproarious cheer, which the R.A.S.C. detachment thereafter repeated at. 2-minute intervals. The Dorsetshire, however, did not depart at that time, as the arrival of the C. P.O. Empress of Russia, and her subsequent turning round in the channel in order to get to her berth atthe China Merchants Lower Wharf, delayed the transport for another half an hour, Me: nwhile from the ship's side long tendrils of paper streamers made connecting. links with the crowd and greetings continued to be interchanged while the bands alternated between lively and melancholy turies. Numerous cameras were flourished in an endeavour to get a last minute souvenir of the occasion.
"Auld Long Syne" notable incident was when the S. Marine band played one of the favourites of The Green Howards, the latter reciprocating with that beloved of the Marines, felling of what the Navy and Army: will see if "they ever look on Heaven's scenes."
'A few minutes past noon the transports ensign went up and cables were slipped, while a tremendous and prolonged shout almost drowned the strains of "Auld Long Syne," played by the U. S, Marines while the remainder of their detachment presented arms in salute the this moved slowly down stream.
Te is not an exaggeration to say that "one of the. most popular regiments in Shanghai was bade farewell in what was a. highly appropriate manner last Friday. 'Apart from their deservedly favour-band, and its amiable conductor, Mr. Francis, the regiment in all ways leaves' the most pleasant recollections of its sojourn here.
Following the ship's departure, traffic problem of some amplitude was created as motor cars ud lorries, and pedestrians made thei way from the pier. This handled ably, as had been the trafic jam on' arrival of the crowd, by Municipal and military police.
Besides The Green Howards, about 200 gunners went off in the Dorsetshire. The transport's capacity is understood to be 1400 and more units will be picked up in Hongkong, of men whose time of service has expired, and in Singapore. spatter six weeks will ind them
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.