Hankow, June 7, The evacuation of Hankow is already in full swing. Measures have been decided upon for accelerating the removal of wounded soldiers and the civilian population.
Hankow's garrison commander, General Cheng Chen, called a conference attended by the mayor, the chief of police and other leading men of the city, when it was decided what measures were to be taken in case Hankow is threatened by another Japanese advance.
It is stated officially that thebe measures about which negotiations are, now in progress are of a precautionary nature, but it is emphasized that certain partial measures are being carried out immediately, name-
Wounded to be Moved l—Transport into the interior of the country of all soldiers in hospitals of the towns of Hankow, Wuchang, ud Hanyang, as also all refugees, whose number is at present 60,000. It is expected, however, that, the number of refugees will greatly increase in the next few days on account of the advance of the Japanese, and that all fugitives arriving will likewise be transported further into the interior of the country. Refugees without means will be transported at Government cost in so for os vehicles—railways, omnibuses, steamers and junks—are available, while the rest will have ie continue westwards on foot.
2—It was decided that all Hankow schools would close in the middle of June in order that all pupils might return to their parents in the interior of the country or together with their parents seek a place of safety.
Regarding the remainder of the population of the Wuhan towns, numbering altogether, 1,500,000, it is declared that all that can be moved, and in particular all women, chil-Gren and aged people, will be urged to leave the territory of the Wuhan towns, During the last week, over 200,000. persons already left this area, it is stated. Theenumber of those transported at this week-end is estimated at 500,000.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.