The Chinese tangle will be simplified a little if General
Yang Sen releases the British merchant vessels, as he is. apparently-thinking of doing. The inquiry would still have to be held into the sinking of the Chinese sampan. It seems that Yang Sen's indignation over the loss of this boat is due to the fact that it was full of silver for the pay of his troops. The Chinese, according to their habit, eammandeered for the transportation of troops a British ship which was passing up the Yangtze. The captain of the ship refused to stop, and in the scuffle the sampan was sunk. The British Minister has made it clear that Great Britain is willing to pay if the inquiry proves that the fault was on the British side. But as the British Government have rightly, pointed out in a strong Note, the seizure of British ships is simply piracy. Meanwhile British ships of war in Greek waters have been ordered to China. * *
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