Considerable anxiety is felt Shanghai and Hongkong regarding the fate of the old H. M.S. Woodlark, renamed Cassum, which left here on November' 6, on a voyage to Hongkong and which has "not been reported as an arrival at the latter port. She is commanded by Capt. W. C: H, Knight, rx.e Inquiries "showed that she was last seen. by the N.S. Sinkiang north of Wen. chow on November 10 and by a Standard Oil steamer which was leaving the latter port on November 11. The Cassum carries no wireless and spoke to Capt. Mather, commander of the Sinkiang, by megan phone. Capt. Mather's attention was drawn to the other vessel by flag signals and also noted that the ship appeared to be having a bad time, On going as near as he could safely do Capt. Mather ascertained that the vessel had a very rough passage and had only been able to make three knots. Capt, Knight requested that H. M. Consulate be advised of the position and intimated that he proposed to call at Wenchow and then carry on. He stated that he had been on the bridge continually for three days and tht the coal supplied was unsuitable for water tube boilers. He Proposed to take in fresh bunkers Wenchow.
Interviewed by a representative of the' "North-China Daily News" and passenger trafic. For the present voyage, for which she was never intended, her sides were shored up and 'a whale-back built on the forward part of the vessel to combat heavy seas and to prevent. her from shipping much water.
The ship left. Shanghai under.
pass for Hongkong and flying the British mercantile marine flag. At the latter port she is to be registered. It is stated that her hull is in good condition and with. stood tests recently made while undergoing re-construction, Her. old gun mountings are being used as ballast on the present trip and it is proposed to run the vessel between Hongkong and Wuchow on the West River, She has twin screws which are operated by her old engines which were found to be in good condition, Her gross tonnage is 440 tons, registered tonnage 238, and she is 145 ft. in length witha 22 ft beam,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.