Two Japanese naval pinnaces, carrying thirty armed. marines board, chugged up the Soochow Creek as far as the North Chickiang, Rond Bridge at 249 p.m. yesterday. At the Bridge, the officer in command the pinhaees was approached by an officer from the "Royal Welch Fusiliers, who. are defending this sector, and requested to turn back and Leave the Crock, og this section Was said to fall within the British defence sector, 'The pinnaces, which wore, it is thoughi, to be' used to attack the Continental Bank Godown in Chapel were said by the Japanese oticer to be proceeding ap the creek to assist a'Shanghal Fire Brigade oat anchored further up in dealing with fires. in Chapel.
When informed of the presence of the two picket boats in the creek, British" Military Headquarters re: quested the Japanese Consul-General, Mr, 8. Okamoto, to asia the Japanes> Naval Landing "Party authorities to withdraw the two pinnaces, as they were encroaching upon the British sector. A ticklish point arose, as the Japanese authorities. "contested the British claim that the creek fell within their defence sector.
British and Japanese consular representatives conferred yesterday afternoon in an attempt to reach an agreement upon this point. Mean= while the two pinnaces were moved from the creek at 430 pan. It ig understood that the pinnaces could not have proceeded further up the creek than the North Thibet Road bridge, as' there is a line of Junks stretched across at that point.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.