H.M.S. Sandwich left her island buoy for a few days to anchor near the mainland and sailors were landed from this ship to guard H.M. Consulate and the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Agency. The comforting sight of HMS, Suffolk in the early morning of January 17 reassured both island and mainland residents. Following her arrival some British marines were landed on the mainland, but these have since been withdrawn.
The High Commissioner, Mr. Sun, left Weihaiwei for the South on January 16, his wife and family having embarked on a steamship bound for Tientsin the preceding day. Several other officials and their families also departed at this time.
Following the departure of Mr. Sun, over 70 members of his personal guard refused to surrender their arms before leaving the territory. Rumour was again rife that these had joined the many bandits which are be outside Weihaiwei at present, it is now understood that the majority of these men have returned and handed over their arms.
The chairman and other important members of the Chamber of Commerce took refuge in King's Hotel, where many of their meetings have been held.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.