At 3 o'clock on September 27, the party of six began their perilous mission. Strong lines of barbed wire, land mines and Chinese stragglers slowed their progress.
At sunset, near the foot of Leng~ shan, they found an abandoned, halt submerged funk. Bailing the water out, they managed to float it but found water pouring in through holes.
Removing their leggings, they plugged the holes. The map was handed over to Lieut. Matsui, who remained on the shore.
The five privates then began their journey down the Yangtze tu the night. After two hours of sail-Ing. in suspense, they "sighted the iky silhouette of a war vessel Halling the crew, they were taken aboard and subsequently transferred to the flagship where they arrived at 4.30 o'clock the following morn-
Immediately orders were given to Proceed to the spot where Lieut. Matsui had remained behind.
The five men offered to go to help locating the officer. In a steam pinnace, they again ventured forth into the mine-Infested waters. After considerable searching, a bonfire was righted. Sthouetted "against the fames could be seen a young Japanese officer signalling. Promptly, the vessel nosed towards the shore.
Taken aboard, the emeer and his five men returned to the flagship where the precious map, showing the exact emplacement of every heavy gun at Tienchiacheng, was handed over to naval officeré—Domei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.