The event of the year, the outbreak of the European War, had little effect upon the Territory. There was a small panic early in August because certain New Territory junks were unable to clear for the Territory, but this was due to a misunderstanding and the matter was quickly set right. There was at one time a rumour that airships were coming from Tsing T'au but this had little effect as few persons out here know anything about either airships or Tsing T'au. Large numbers of notices in simple Chinese were distributed telling the people that there was a war, but that it was a long way off, and that they had better attend to their own business and not worry about things which did not concern them. The people have taken this advice and I imagine that now the vast majority of the people out here are quite ignorant of the fact that there is a war at all.
20th May, 1915.
S. B. C. Ross,
District Officer.