BRITISH WARSHIPS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 221, 18 August 1937, Page 9

BRITISH WARSHIPS.

LOCATION IN CHINESE WATERS. (British Official Wireless.) Received August 18, 11.18 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 17. Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Little, Comniander-in-Cliarge of the China Station, who is noifr at Shanghai, is responsible for the co-ordination of the British forces in China. The disposition of the British naval vessels in China waters is:—

At Shanghai: The cruiser Cumberland (flagship) Vice-Admiral Little; the cruiser Suffolk is in the vicinity of Saddle Island; the light cruiser Danae, the destroyer-leader Duncan, tho destroyer Duchess and the escort vessel Falmouth.

At Tsingtao: Tho aircraft carrier Eagle and the destroyers Decoy, Dainty and Delight. , At Clung Wangtao: Tlie minelayer Adventurer and the destroyer Defender.

At Nanking: The cruiser Capetown. At Chefoo: The destroyer Diana. Mr It. A. Eden and Viscount Halifax were in close consultation this morning with the permanent officials at the Foreign Office on the grave situation in the Far East. This afternoon they discussed with their colleagues the latest developments at Shanghai and the measures being taken for the protection of British lives and interests. The Ministers who met at the Foreign Office with Mr Eden and Viscount Halifax were Mr Duff Cooper (First Lord of the Admiralty), Mr Hore-Belisha (Secretary for War), and Mr Ormsby Gore (Colonial Secretary). The Ministers were together for .about two hours and gave consideration to all the possible steps which might be taken to ensure a peaceful outcome from the tension at Shanghai. They also decided to take all possible measures to protect the safety of British citiAns in the International Settlement and to secure British interests there. Shanghai messages report that the influence of British and other Governments is still being directed towards securing tlie agreement of the parties to a plan for the cessation of tlie attacks on their nationals in the Foreign Settlement. This is the concern of all the Governments but it does not appear that Shanghai residents were in any danger before the landing of Japanese reinforcements, and it is far from clear, in the estimation of observers hi London, whether ideas of military prestige or the safety of their nationals come first as the motive ol the present Japanese action.