Picturesque Ceremonial at the Launch in Shanghai: Consul's Hope for Peace A number of foreigners and more than 1,000 Japanese and Chinese residents were present at the Eastern Engineering & Shipbuilding Works, Yangtszepoo, on Monday afternoon, to witness the launching of the new Japanese gunboat Katata (338 tons). Visitors, who were: entertained to tea and' refreshments following the launching ceremony, each received a souvenir in the form of a paperweight. After a message of congratulation from the Minister of Navy (Admiral Takarabe) had been read by the Japanese Naval Agent, Commander Sugisaka, the Jaunching ceremony was performed by Miss Funatsu, daughter of the Japanese Consul-General, who cut the cord with a silver axe. the ship tock to the water a re and white ball, suspended from a boom at, the bow, suddenly opened and, from among a shower of con-fette, a number of pigeons flew out, denoting that the vessel would have a peaceful career.
Mr. G. One, managing director of the Eastern Engineering Shipbuilding Works, the builders, stated that the Katata was the second Japanese gunboat to he built in China, jointly by Chinese and Japanese workmen, the first being the which was launched on July 2. The reason why the Katata has been constructed in this yard was not because it was perfectly equipped but because it was the only Japanese shipyard in China. The vessel had been built for 10 other purpose than the protec: tion of Japanese lives and property in China, where, disorderly and chaotic conditions were -prevailing. Mr.
One expressed the thought that, at an opportune time in the future, the Japanese government would with-@raw the Katata and her sister vessel, the Seta.
Mr. T. Funatsu, Japanese Consul-General, saidi: "We Japanese people are not anxious to build. and place these gunboats on the Yangtze, but in view, of the present situation in China the Japanese government deems it absolutely necessary to _construct gunboats which can sail up the Yangtze, for the protection of the lives and property and other interests of Japanese residents otherwise there will be no necessity to increase our naval forces in China. I hope the anti-Japanese boycott will be ended in order that peace and friendship may exist between the Chinese and the Japanese people. I trust that peace and order may be restored as soon as possible and reign permanently and that the lives and property of foreigners may be protected by the Chinese themselves. Then these boats will become unnecessary."
Like the Seta, the Katata is second class gunboat. Her overall length is 184 ft; moulded breadth 27 ft; normal draft 3 ft. 4 in; displacement 338 tons; full speed 16 knots. The vessel has two vertical triple expansion engines and two boilers, and two propellers. She will have a crew of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.