Shanghai, Feb. 10.
Stating that "as a matter of reallly belligerent operations were going on gainst China," the naval spokesman fat the Japanese press conference yesterday replied to questioning by 2 correspondent, who pointed out that [Japanese action in detaining and searching ships of Third Party Powers amounted almost to a claim for bel-gerent rights, in spite of the fact that there had' been no declaration of The questions arose following a statement by the spokesman to. the effect that the British freighter, s, Mingsang, which had been detained at Chefoo, with the s, Taisang, had een released by the authorities at Chefoo. Asked when the Mingsang lad been released, the spokesman replied, "probably yesterday.
Answering a question as to the reason for the detention of the Ming sang, the spokesman replied that, stated on Wednesday, t was forthe purpose of establishing her status, Replying to a questioner, who on-quired what would be the position fu the high seas, in view of the fact that alt ships detained so far had been in Chinese ports, the spokesman stated that it had been the practice to carry out the detention of vessels within the territorial waters of Chins.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.