The task of clearing Shanghai of Chinese war refugees to such a degree as only to maintain those who are aged and invalid is being actually curried out by the Shanghai Refugee Relief Society in Canton Road and it is therefore expected that when the hot summer comes the number of Chinese refugees here (now about 46,000) will be greatly reduced. En-aumes reveal that during the past few days, several hundred refugees have been sent to their native districts.
The plan for dispersing the refugees was made only recently, but the programme is now being carried out in earnest. An official, of the society states that travelling expenses amounting to $18 or $15 are given adult refugees and for each child refugee, a fee of $5 is given. Early departure from Shanghai is being encouraged, as is evidenced by the fact that those who can leave early are each given $18 instead of $15.
The society, which is the biggest of.its kind in Shanghai and which has been responsible for the supplies for other small refugee camps has been directly taking care of refugees in the two biggest camps here. The second refugee camp managed by the society was closed last winter, leaving the biggest one in Tunsin Road, where more than 15,00 refugees live. The society is sending away refugees from this camp which, in near future, will be used for housing those refugees who must still be cared for by the public here.
The Shanghai Office of the Federation of Philanthropic: Bodies in the Pootung Guild building in Avenue Edward VII is doing the same thing. The federation, which has its head office in Chungking-controlled interior, has been maintaining two refugee camps in North Honan Road and Hart Road near Avenue Road, where about 9,000 refugees live now. More than 2,000 of these refugees have registered lor departure. The federation hopes to send them away before the end of this month by giving them travelling expenses. There is no compulsory departure, it is learned.
Reports from Gothenburg state seven steamers, believed io be Norwegian whalers adapted for mine-sweeping. Were seen yesterday morning apparently sweeping a lane in the British mine fields, with an escort of aircraft overhead.
After they had finished their task, a convoy of two large destroyers and several merchant ships was observed coming from the south, steaming towards Norway.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.