To-day the first bat 1 of women and children evacuated by the British authorities Shanghai in the Hajputana. which have been taken to facilitate this exodus are obviously grave. They cannot be ques tioned for behind them stand the con: sidered opinions of civil. naval Military officers of His Majesty werniment. The resultant person: problems which have ito be solved by individual members of the conuiunity have to be swiftly reviewed. The basic point to consider is that the Naval authorities can make arrangements for this evacuation by the ce-operation of companies who have admirably the occasion, It is. difficw British subjects especially t pul They dislike led upon to act on opinions seem to he accepting blind.
doubt it is possible to obtain which comfortably vm_the idea aration. This is no time to dq otherwise than act with the discipline which the demands. The woman or man who is disposed to gamble on the pos sibility of another reading of the situa tion, being "correct is not doing a service to the community. The whole of the International Setilement's future und that of Shanghai g on implicit trust in the who have to assur the serious resp sibilities of leadership and command. There should he no misguided yead into the official announcement mo it contains, than to search for motives which are not there,.or indeed paint " blacker picture, than the circumstances as known to the trained clservers justify. The duty of every family in this case is to decide yea or nay and, having decided, once to adjust' themselves to the situation, The unavoidable haste with which the arrangements are being considerable patience a y on all. The aut believed to be making satisfactory contacts with Hongkong for the reception of the evacuated women and children. In Hongkong many willing hands will be turned.to the task of smoothing the path for the visitors. The temporary sojourn in the island will be made comfortable as possible. 'That is hard necessary to emphasize. In any' case the resources of the Hongkong adminis: tration should be fully equal to the emergency thus thrust upon it. Here the Naval authorities are directing the evacuation, After the preliminary readjustments in settling down to a thorities at th before the afternoon had passed to fill up the Rajputana and the Empress of Asia, The smoothness of the proceedings was greatly assisted by the good-and or quest The semi-official annet tish subjects who can prove their destitution may apply for evacua fr will be duly cared for in Hon, of charge is much welcomed. sure of relief on which
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.