Immediately on receipt of the message the British naval authorities Shanghai were informed by Messrs, -Herlofson, Gordon and Reaves, of the seizure and a wireless message ordering HM. Birming-tam, Lying in the harbour at Weihaiwei, to proceed with all speed to Tsingldo was despatched. The cruiser rived in Tsingtao about an hour After the three merchant ships hud entered port, a message received in Shanghai yesterday stated, and ne~ gotiations wore opened immediately with the result that the British Veavel was. freed. On January 29, escorted by the cruiser, she earned out of Tsingtao on her way to Shanghai while the warship returned to Weihaiwei, Although the exact nature of the charges against the three vessels was hot divulged by the Japanese atithorities, It is believed that the ships were seized on the suspicion that they. were unloading arms. and_ammunition for the use of guerillas at Shayangho, These charges will be investigated, today, the "North-China Daily News" was informed yesterday bya shipping oMelal at HM, Con-slate, All Shanghai steamers have now stopped calling "at. river ports in North Kiangsu and many goods destined for Hoshingcheng have had to remain in Shanghai on account of the activity of Japanese war vessels, the Report continued. Some steam: ers, which have attempted to. reach these ports, have been turned back by the Japanese, the report con-eluded.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.