The magnificent row of foreign warships in the Whangpoo, which has inspired foreign confidence for months on end, is gradually being thinned. H.M.S. Cumberland left some time ago. The French cruiser LaMotte Piquet was replaced last week by the Primauguet after a long period here. The Italian flagship Montecuccoli left on Monday morning and the U.SS. Augusta, flagship of Admiral Yarnell, is leaving in the course of the next day or two. All of these vessels have been in Shanghai waters for more than their usual spell of duty owing to the situation, and the familiar sight in the Whangpoo has done much to allay nervousness in what has been probably the most critical period in the history of the foreign areas of Shanghai, Navigation problems which were rever formerly conceived were surmounted to make this concentration possible. First there was the arrival of the Augusta, which boldly ignored previous customs. and moored outside the usual anchorage, while Cumberland came up-river and sandwiched herself in the mass of naval shipping in a similar seamanlike fashion. With other units of the international fleet it s an impressive array. Shanghai is sorry to see these ships go: on the other hand, Shanghai is glad that circumstances e improved so much thi lat their presence here is no longer necessary, In the meantime, the community's thanks.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.