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"Oldhamia" had been transferred to a Russian Cruiser (no name
given).
On the morning of the 22nd. the "Oldhania"
being no longer in sight, I enquired as to her whereabouts, and
was informed by one of the Lieutenants that she no longer exist-
-ed.
On the 23rd. most of the day was spent in
coaling the fleet from the transports in company.
On the 24th. a British steamer was sighted,
bound to the Westward, but no effort was made to transfer us. I
asked the reason, and was told that the intentions of the Admical
had been altered.
On the 25th. the "Dnieper" was left in
company with six colliers (Russian), which she conveyed to the
Saddles, where we arrived at 2.30 p.m., and the colliers took
pilots and proceeded up the river. The "Dnieper" then cruised
in the vicinity for two or three days.
On the 26th, we were told that we should
be kept on board until the 2nd. of June at least.
On the 28th. at 4.30 p.m., the drums beat
to quarters and the ship was cleared for action, on sighting
the British tub-boat "Sampson" from Shanghai. She was signalled
to stop and was boarded, but allowed to proceed.
Several other steamers were stopped and
boarded on the 29th. but none of them were molested.
On the 31st. we passed down the Eastern
side of Formosa, and on the following day sighted Luzon, where
the German S.S. "Prinz Sigismund" was stopped and boarded and
allowed to proceed.
During that afternoon and the whole of the
2nd. the crew were employed cleaning the ship's bottom which
was very foul. A steam trial took place while we were on board,
when