THE DEFENCE OF SHANGHAI.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10760, 13 September 1900, Page 5

THE DEFENCE OF SHANGHAI.

• The "North China Daily News" of July 3lsst says:—"The Consular Body having unanimously : decided to invite the Senior 'Naval Officers in port to undertake the direction of the defence of the Settlements, they appointed the Consuls-General foi France and the United States to wait upon Vice-Admiral Sir E. H. Seymour, 1-t.N,, X.C.8., the Senior Naval Officer in port, and invite him to take the matter in hand. This Admiral Seymour has consented tc do, and will as soon as possible call a meeting of the Senior Naval Officers oi the various Powers represented ip the harbour, as well as the Russian military representative, to discuss the necessary- arrangements. In this the precedent is'being foi lowed that was set at the time of the late Franco-Chinese war, when Captain (now Admiral) Accini of the Italian navy, being the Senior Naval Officer, had charge, of the defences of the whole of Shanghai;;-Good as our volunteers are, and great as is tbe confidence that we have in them, it is obviously desirable that they should be under professional direction when it can hi obtained, and it is to men-of-war that every port in China turns at once when dancer threatens."

It should be noted that tlie farming, reports emanating from Shanghai, wia regard, to the state of the Yangtse, have beer, officially contradicted in Shanghai