The Augusta had been anchored overnight arid had just got underway to come out of the harbour. She was rutining slowly and turning with full rudder at the time of the accident. 'The incident, inelüding damages, was reported to' the Navy Department, which issued a statement on it to the press. The statement said that the damage was minor.
The ship's hull was untouched. The tips of the blades of one propeller were curled and the main damage was confined to the lower two feet of the rudder, which is built up of plates and castings which were broken in several places. As stated by the Navy Department, the damage was minor, Repairs afe inexpensive, but since only a limited number of workmen can work at the same time, the feplirs add replacements of the small broken castings táke considerable, time.
Admiral Hart was m Manila for a week after the accident anid available to the press at any tire after his report on the accident had been received by the Navy Department. After the "Admiral proceeded to Olungapo, where the Augusta was in dock, a communication was received imm a press agency stating that a report was in circulation to the effect that the Augusta had been "badly holed." The agency requested a statement from the Commander-in-Chief. As the Navy Department had already issued its statement to the press, it was considered best to rest upon that report, which was entirely correct. Consequently, the Com-inlander-in-Chief simply replied that the report öf serious damage was iñ- correct, ;|BíHg is concerned and that since at present they cannot carry on the business here owing to intervention by major belligerents the local trade is affected. It is asserted that there is no hope that Danish and Finnish ships will ever. consider Shanghai as a place of call during the war.
It is explained, however, that the situation may rot last long. The "Chinese American Daily News" says that although at present arrivals of ships to Shanghai have been limited, it is still a question just how long such regulations will be enforced, The situation affects Shanghai trade but merchants are adviced to Have farsightedness. Economy, will help. to overcome present difficulties. The same view is reflected in other Chinese reports.
A report on the same subject was also given prominence by the Japanese-controlled "Sin Shun Pao" on, Sunday, but its tone was more optimistic. It was stated that the difficult situation would result in the development of Japanese trade in the Far East. Although European ships are hard to reach Shanghai there would be no difficulty in exporting goods from Shanghai, it was stated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.