Ju spite of the continuous bombardment by Japanese warships and the attentions of the seaplane from HIJ.M.S, Tdzumo, which make Mfe very uncomfortable, there are many Chi nese still living in the Pootung area. A party which visited it yesterday found all sorts of odd buildings being used as quarters by the Inhabitants, "who naturally" preferred living close to the waterfront to venturing into the ins terior where the chances of being bombed oF shelled are greater. Communications with Shanghai have almost ceased in. the upper Feaches, just beyond the boom. But foreigners Stil pay visits to their property, landing below the boom and walking along the wharves, The Nantao side shows no activity, But coolies on the Pootung shore are still working, especially British property, where the Union Jack has been prominently displayed to prevent errors by aviators of both sides, 'The boom seems to be impenetrable, with' ships sunk almost three deep along its length. 'There are ships trapped above the boom which are costing their owners large sums and are perfectly use Jess, and it seems a needless waste that nothing can' be done to open the boom suMciently to tenable them to come down river and go about their usual tasks, 'The ce-operation of the Chinese authorities to this end would surely Rot be refused, since the property of friendly nations is being made useless by the boom at present, and there could be little danger to Nantao' from the Japanese if the boom were opened for a few hours and closed again after the ships had been released,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.