The French steamer Taiseunghong, under charter by Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Ca. arrived here this afternoon. She ticd up at the D.K.K. Wharf for examination, which proved to a perfunctory affair, lasting for about 15 minutes, The Japanese officials, according to the skipper of the vessel, were "very courteous." The Taiseunghong was the foreign vessel to arrive since the beginning of the blockade.
The first day of the blockade yesterday passed off without any major incidents, although indignities are understood to have been inflicted upon a number of foreigners.
The Japanese concentrated upon British and French nationals, some of whom were detained, and minutely questioned, while their cars were thoroughly ransacked, involving in one instance a delay of one hour.
There were several cases in which respected members of the British community were forced to take off their shoes and socks, much to their indignation The Japanese authorities were reported to have been equally strict with Japanese seeking admission to the foreign areas. They were more lenient, however, with other nationals, such as Germans and Italians. At least two cases were, however, reported of German women being searched.
Russian women were also searched, despite the fact that they produced certificates testifying that they had been registered with the loca! Anti-Communist Committee. The women were searched by female searchers. but it is understood that they were not forced to strip.
There were many authentic instances of Britons being made to line up (Continued on page 8)
(Continued on page 8)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.