The fourth and last examination, the oMelal said, will be held in July. According to his estimate, there are tess than 50 foreign masters, chief engineers, and chief officers on Chie nese ships. Failure to pass these examinations, he agreed, might lead to loss of their positions. Of this number, one third are Norwegians fand one third Japanese, The refusal of foreign members of the mercantile marine to submit to auch examinations, it is explained in local foreign shipping circles, is due to the fact that the majority of the older skippers who have never been called upon to refer to their text book knowledge in the light of their years fof practical experience and know: edge will most probably find themselves not in a position to pass the theoretical series of tests without ample time for special study and preparation in order to bring their text book knowledge up to date. 'The examination ig said to be as severe, it not severer, than that held by the British Board' of Trade.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.