Hankow, July 17. AIDESEREAD rumours that armistice proposals have been put forward by the British and American Ambassadors here are said to be without the slightest foundation. In this connection the British Ambassador, Sir Archibald Kerr, authorises Reuter to issue a categorical denial that he is engaged in proposing an armistice to the Chinese Government.
The visit of the Swedish and Swiss Ministers to Hankow is also said to have no political significance whatever.
The question of an armistice, Reuter is informed, has not even been discussed in Hankow in any responsible quarters, Chinese or foreign.
Early this morning, before daybreak, a Japanese warship steamed up river from Hukow and reached Siaochikou, 25 miles from Hukow, at 440 am. according to Chinese reports.
The warship is said to have turned back eastwards after remaining in the vicinity of Siaochikou for about five minutes, without attempting to shell Kiukiang.
Anhwei, according to Chinese reports, which state that the floods are continuing to advance at the rate of three miles per day, being. divided into two streams. The first of these is said to be entering the Fei River, and the second to be joining the Yin River, resulting in the overflowing of the Hwai River, and also of other smaller rivers and lakes in western Anhwei.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.