Swatow is always getting into the Club. There are games of tennis, Set, strangely [folendly gatherings In the cool of the enough, there is. practically nothing evening, rides in Swatow's excellent of nevis value in this port on the|rickshaws, which put the Shanghai South China Coast." Perhaps it is ones to" shame, and strolls in because of this utter Tack of news Swatow's, new million dollar mem-that ambitious correspondents else- [rial park. precy' sood ory cootting stound aeysisey: Cinste, Up Swatow, "Prom: tie sensational. re-At Canton, the mystery of Swatow, ports "appearing in "South "China "bugbear ofthe South China Coast apers, visit 10 Swatow would be: Undertaken only. by the most foolhardy, or those anxious for real \dventure and excitement.
And so a "North-China Herald" representative who visited Swatow reently expected to find Chinese troops massed In battle array around the town, terrified residents fleeing into every form of conveyance that could {take them away from the nightmare seaport, a fleet of Japanese battle [cruisers stripped for action, and while~ faced foreign residents' anxiously awaiting instructions from the British Consulate for evacuation to Hongkong.
Tt' came as a pleasant surprise, therefore, to find Swatow in about was cleared up once and for all. The reports have been emanating "from Interested parties in Canton, whom it suits, presumably, to'see Swatow misrepresented in every possible way. These reports are handed on to a certain gentleman, and transmitted by him to the proper quarters It Swatow were really in a, state of upheaval, it would obviously be necessary for foreigners there 10 ac~ cept the fact and act accordingly with regard to the maintenance "of their businesses. "But no less. than four leading British residents decried the false reports about Swatow which doing much to set up agitation, hinder trade, 'The only real scare in Swatow during the past few weeks was the result' of a mistake, A. couple of Chinese. Air Japanese warships, there were but two, the number stationed in Swatow tor'months before hositities in the north. Washing hanging out on the deck belied the reports of the vessels being "stripped for action," and the boxes piled just behind) the gun turrets might Just as well have been tinned sardines for' the comfort of the crew. Instead of grim faces sot for a force bombardment of Swatow, there appeared an atmosphere of complete calm on board. the two destroyers with' officers taking it easy.on wicker chairs perched on the fore deck.
Threat to Foreign residents in Sivatow, who. were at frst mere! three-inch headlines about peaceful retreat on the South China coast, have begun to take a more delerimined attitude in view of the standers their "home town.
1 ds all very well for instance, to find in the South China pres the announcement that the commander of one of the cruisers has ordered the withdrawal of all Chinese, troops irom 'Swatow, But when, week after week, a scene utter' chaos Is depicted' in Swatow, merchants begin to lose confidence, and trade falls off.
Because of this, prominent foreign residents in. Swaio approached the Suthorities to -make representations the "Hongkong authorities with regard to all too frequent scar headlines about Swatow which thes were carrying. Th were made a fortnight or "North Ching Herald"
A Swatow indent told the that fre= quently he finds it necessary to send telegrams denying sensational cident in Swatow which has never occurred. The one or two ems. in Swatow per month comparatively "mall importance, and Certainly do not amount to violent Ineldents such as are reported certain newspapers.
Tt was learned ft the consulate that all is completely quiet at Swatow, with very ttle threat of disturbance ices at the present time.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.