Shanghai, Aug. 13, For the frst time. in' Shanghai's history a barricade stretches across the Whangpoo River, "Moving hastily and quite unexpectedly late. yesterday afternoon, the Chinese authorltowed into position two old steamers and fen or more sea-going junks to form a boom from the Nantao Bund to the Pootung shor'
The barricade, rough and ready but probably completely effective, ex: fends from the Nantao ferry station to the ferry station on the opposite shore, A narrow passage was left Jat each end, and last night. small Jeraft, tugs, sampans, junks, were not too greatly impeded, The miscel-ancons craft were anchored stem to stern, the usual junk anchors "and ropes apparently "being. considered Dusk™ was fallin as the "Nort China Daily News" representatives cruised along the barricade, Two obsolete "river steamers, the Foo Shing and the San Kiang, were the heaviest craft in the boom, the rest being huge junks from all parts of China, judging by the differences. In their construction. Behind the line modern steamer, like ah in charge, the s. Chung: Hsing. This bigger vessel' is also moored with her stem pointing to It is believed that this barricade has been thrown up og a measure of protection for the Chinese. Kiangnan Arsenal and the Kiangnan Naval Dockyards, some distance above the boom. "Whether or not the boom was manned by military or naval units could not be ascertained last night, although unconfirmed reports had it that they were there. No sign of any such units could be seen when the "North-China Daily News" representatives visited the scene, Steanier Runs Passage Just as darkness fell. a Japanes: river steamer owned by the Nisshin Kisen Kaisha, whose wharves, coal depots and godowns, together' with 'a number of their river vessels tied during the past few days, are all well above the boom, came steaming around Pootung Point as usual. Pass Ing The Bund with her usual con. dence, the steamer did not slow down until opposite the "Japanese Naval Buoys. Here a plaintive wall from her syren-whistle, inquiring, perplexed, rent the quiet night ait End she slowed almost to' a. stop. Then, as if undaunted, her skipper set her moving again and she just managed to get her squat bulk through the passage along the Pootung shore, Once through, her syren [squealed her triumph and she gathered speed eventually to tle up at her Movement " of " all ocean-going steamers will of course, be out of the question as long as the boom
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.