Reports that "HAMS. ' Capetown, which left "Harkow on Saturday afternoon on her way" down the: Yangtze, had been forced to return to Hankow owing to the Japanese blockade of the Lower Yangtze were discredited by the British naval authorities in Shanghai last night. The Capetown, continuing her voyage down river, arrived safely off Wow yesterday, where she anchored until this morning. Getting under way gain, she is expected to arrive at Woosung to-morrow, probably in the morning, but her movements after that are uncertain. It is not expected that she will come up to Shanghai, a9 it Is more likely that she will proceed straight to Hongkong to pick up the Fomainder of her crew, who left for the Colony carly\in October. The Capetown is being worked by a skeleton crew on, her way down river.
It ly presumed that the Capetown has safely penetrated the boom which the Chinese were constructing near Kiukiang, and which Is now believed te. have' been closed. The next 'n her path is the Kiangyin ccording to a Reuter message from' Hankow. It is possible that there may not be suMiclent water in the breached portion of the boom to allow the cruiser, drawing 17% feet, to pass through. their journey to Shanghai. The pass. engers Include 23 women and 30 children. "If the Capetown cannot ass through the boom, she will be: ut off not only from Shanghai but else from Hankow, by the new booms rected upriver "by the Chinese military authorities. Complete sus-Pension of shipping trifle was. effected at noon yesterday, when all the newly erected booms were closed.
As a result of this, the proposed dash to Shanghai of Messrs. Butter-eld & Swire's sloomer Woosung, with ever 200 passengers, has been baulked. The Woosung was scheduled to leave Hankow to-morrow, escorted by the British gunboat Gnat. Instead, preparations to run'a refuges train 10 Hongkong are again in full owing. The date of departure has not bern fixed, but it will probably be towards the € of this week. Over 300 names have already been registered for: passages. 'The Japanese authorities have been informed that the train will be leaving Hankow towards the Gnd of the week, and have replied that they will require 48 hours' Holice of its departure.
Meanwhile, hundreds of river craft of all sizes, driven up the river by the Japanese advance," are reported to be assembling a Hankow, and will bbe used for the evacuation of refugees further up the: Yangtze.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.