Tokyo, Oct, 5.
To protect, Japanese nationals Shanghai and in other cities of the Yangtze Valley the 24th destroyer flotilla of the Imperial Japanese Navy sailed for Chinese waters at. 5.30" o'clock last night, it was one nounced here to-day.
The flotilla sailed from the Sesebo Naval Base with Shanghai as its destination. "The 26th destroyer otilla and the Noshima, a. special service vessel, are standing by here prepared to sail for China when orders have been veeeived. The ips are laden with marines and supplies for a long tour of duty.
The First, Fleet, which has been rubling here since last, week, 1s being prepared for a cruise. The 50 vessels which comprise the fleet. with the battleship Mutsu as. the flagship are taking on capacity. Toads of fuel as well as of marines. The fleet will soon be. ready. to proceed to Chinese waters although: sailing orders have not yet been issued except to the 24th destroyer flotilla—United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.