THR
NAVAL CASUALTIES ON THE YANGTSZE.
SEQUEL TO CAPTURE OF TWO B."& S. SHIPS.
MERCANTILE MARINE OFFICERS RELEASED BY FORCE.
THREE NAVAL OFFICERS AND FOUR MEN KILLED.
OFFICIAL DETAILS.
A Rugby wireless message and a statement issued by the Naral Authorities yesterday, through the Hongkong Government, give the details of the capture, and rescue of the officers of the two Butterfield & Swire vessels near Wanksien on the Upper Yangtaze to which brief reference bas been made in the cables during the past few days.
-
The boats were seized by General Yang Sen, of Szechuan, who is a supporter of Marshal Wu-Pei F. The whole unfortunate affair, which has resulted so disastrously, is an isolated occurrence with absolutely no As the crow flies Wanhaien in relation to the fighting around Hankow. nearly three hundred and fifty miles west of Hankow and considerably farther by river. The wireless message from Home is as follows:
[KRITISH WIRELESS SERVICE.]
RUGBY, September 7th. On the information at present available, the following may be regarded as an authoritative, account of the incident at Waahsien, in the Upper Yangtste, in which casualties were suffered by British naval forces in attempting to rescue to British ships which had been seized and detained by General Yang Sen, an ad- herent of Wu Pái Fu:
On August 20th, the British steamer Wanlin (owned by Messrs. Butterfield & Swire) arrived at Yang Yang, forty miles below Wanhaicn. As she was dis- charging passengers and aparently whilst still under way, Chinese soldiers came.
aboard and another sampan full of sol- diers also approached. Fire was opened Won the Bandiu from both banks of the river and the soldiers on board rushed to the bridge and engine-room..
Threat to Kill Captain. The ship's officere drove the Chinese
soldiers off the bridge, but meanwhile other sampan, which had been trying to Come alongside, fouled with other boat and sank. The soldiers already on board
·RESCUED BY FORCE..... HEAVY BRITISH LOSSES. The following official report has been issued by the local naval authorities, through the Hongkong Government.
"For some time it has been the habit, when no British ganboats have been in the vicinity, for Chinese Generala to place armed soldiers on board British vessels for conveyance 'up and down the river.
·HONGKONG DAILY FRESS. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH
LATEST NEWS FROM SHANGHAI.
BRITISH NAVAL AUTHORITIES SUPPLY FURTHER DETAILS,
(TEXOUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.] »,
SHANGHAI, September 8th.
The following official statement with regard to the Wanhsien affair was given out by the British Naval Authorities at Shanghai this after
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19:28
THE FIGHTING IN CENTRAL CHINA:
WUCHANG AT LAST CAPTURED.
HANKOW ALSO IN THE HANDS OF THE SOUTHERNERS.
{THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCT.]
SHANGHAI, September 8th.
LATER.
Reuter's correspondent at - Hankow
THE ST. LEGER.
VICTORY FOR THE DERBY
WINNER..
THROUGH BETTER'S (AGENCY. }
LONDON, September 7th. Wangratta and Norman Duka were- scratched from the St. Leger to-day, Caissot is to be ridden by Carslake instead of Weston, who rides a new prob-
The full list of probables follows:- Brooklet
Caissot
Comedy King Coronach
The British steamer. Wanlia, belonging but succeeded in rescuing the ships and to Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, on August officers. The into was unable to pro- 20th was discharging passengers at Tung-cred alongside the Pantung owing to
A wireless message from Hankow, dated, able Piazzetta. yang when she boarded by sixteen armed the fire, but the officers therefrom jumped
yesterday, states: The Southerners · soldiers and at the same time a sampan overboard, the captain being picked up containing troops approached the ship. by the Kiawo and the chief oficer by captured Hanyang and the Arsenal this
evening." The Wanli proceeded "glowly in order the French gunboat Doudart De Lagree, to avoid the sampan. Fire was opened but Chief Engineer Johnson, reported from both banks of the river and the wounded, is presumed to have been says:-There were, startling developments at Hanyang overnight and the city came troops on board rushed to the bridge drowned.
H.M.S. Cockchafer bombarded the into the Southerners' handa this morning and the engine room. The ship's officers drove them off. Meanwhile, another town of Wanhsien, as far as can be a (September 7th). sampan containing about eight people certained, inficted considerable damage. tried to come alongside, but fouled, with| another boat and drifted astern, even tually sinking:
17
Soldiers aboard seized the "Wanliu's compradore and threatened the captain with death, but an armed watch was kept aboard till the ship's arrival at Waabsien, where HM.S. Cockchafer re-
This practice being illegal and incommoved the soldiery. patible with our attitude of neutrality co far as Chinese civil wars were concern-
General Yang Sen magnified this ia
ed and of non-interference with Chinese cident into the sinking of two junth, domestic troubles, British gunboats have the drowning of fifty-six soldiers and always demanded the removal of all mili-the loss of eighty-five thousand dollars, tary forces of whatever party from On August 9th, Ying Sen sent three British shipping, and its release, from or four hundred soldiers aboard both the Tuntung and Wanksies, when lying at Wonhsien. In addition, he lined the tanks of the river with troops and re- fused to allow any intercourse with the
such service.
** Wanțiu " Incident. When discharging passengers at Yung yang on August 29th, a number of armed soldiers boarded the British 88. Wanliu and further sampans of soldiers ap-
proached the vessel. The 1.3. Wanliu was proceeding slow speed ahead and en- deavouring to avoid a sampan, when fire was opened from both banks of the river then seized the compradore of the Wanli and the troops on board rushed the bridge and threatened to kill her captain and engine room-but fortunately were They remainded aboard while the ship proceeded to Wanhsien. When she arriv-driven off by the ship's officers. Sumpans endeavouring to come alongside the vessel ed there, the British naval vessel, Cock-fouled one another and eventually sank. chafer turned the soldiers off and the Waalin proceeded..
Two Ships Seized.
On August 30th, General Yang Sen seized two other vessels belonging to the same. British company, namely, the steamers Fantung and Fanhsien, and placed 300 soldiers aboard them, a parently as a reprisal for the accidental sinking of a sampan full of his soldiers.
On arrival at Wanshien the troops were removed from the sa. Fantiu by H.M.S. Cockchafer and the ss. Waaliu proceeded on her voyage.
Act of Piracy.
General Yang Sen at Wanhsien protest- ed that the .s. Wanlie had sunk. two junks and that his soldiers had been drowned, and seized the two British Vessels Wanhtien and Wantung, placed and confined the ships' officers.
two steamers, threatening H.M.S. Cock chefer if she tried to get under weigh or
take any steps to relieve them.
The British Naval" authorities state that the British casualties appear to be as follows, but details lack confirmation
at present:-
KILLED-Comdr. F. C. Darley, Lieat. 4. J. Higgins, of H.M.S. Despatch: Lieut. C. Ridge, of H..S. Cock. HMS Despatch; Leading Seaman chafer: Abic Seaman Farminer, of Haslam, Able "Seamen Marrote and Rarrow, of H.M.S. Scarba. Farrow, of H.M.S. Scarab.
DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED:-Able Seaman
WOUNDED:-Lieut.Comdr. L. 5. Ache- son. of E.M.S. Cockchafer and Lieut. J C. Fogg Elliott, of H.M.S. Mantis; and Able Seamen Critt and Dolan, Ship wright Crabtree, of H.M.S. Despatch, also two Able Seamen and one stoker of
S. Mantis and Eve Able Seamen of H. MS. Cockchefer and one Able Seaman of H.M.S. Scarab, whose names are not yet known. Chinese casunities, unknown
BRITISH FLAGSHIP LEAVES FOR HANKOW.
PEKING, September 9th.
At Waahsien negotiations through the THE ADMIRAL ABOARD. "British Consul at Chungking failed to altar Yang Sen's attitude and it was decided to send a naval expedition to Wauhsien to effect their release. This expedition was under Commander Darles of HM.S. Despatch, who had been sent from Hankow with a party of officera and men. They arrived at Wanbsien on the evening of September 5th, but owing to a warning having been received y Yang Sen no attempt was made on that occasion to release the ships:
It is authoritatively reported -- that 6fteen British casualties resulted from the firing on the British gunboats at Wanhsien, including three officers killed- Comdr. Darley and Lieut. Higgins of
Goes Over to Enemy.
Early last evening the Southerners began the attack, being opposed by Chin Yuan's and Liu Two Lung's troops, the latter defending the city and the former Hanyang Hill.
During the night, Liu Teo Lung's men
concentrated in the attack on Hanyang went over to the enemy, after which both
Hill, almost completely decimating Chin Yuan's forces, who are reported to have fought bravely,
*
Grave Position. Foreigners from Hanyang this morning report that the city, including the Arsenal, is completely in the possession of the Reds, who are occupying, the 'rity in very large numbers.
The position is very grave as Hanyang Hill coramands both Wuchang and Han kow, being the site of an important
Foliation Glenalbyn Hilika
Lex
Masked Ruler Piazzetta
Steel Point Southbourne
(R..Jonek)
(B. Carsinke.) (C. Elliott) (H. Childs.) (Brennan.) (T. Taylor.) (R. Smirks.) (M. Beary.) (Esling.) (T. Weston.) (Perryman.) (Dempsey.)
THE RESULT..
LONDON, September sth.
Coronach (5/13).........................
Caissot (100/7) ....
Foliation (100/7)
1
Q
3
Twelve ran: won by two lengths; aix lengths dividing second and third.
"BIG
TRADE UNIONISTS.
DISCUSSION UNION "
BOURNEMOUTH.
NEW LABOUR COLLEGE.
AT
LONDON, September 7th.. At Bournemouth, there was a lively discussion at the Trade Union Congress ina resolution by the General Workers" Union demanding the discouragement of formation of new organisations with one big Union" as the ultimate goal. The Congress finally adopted an amend. It is expected that the Southerners, ea- ment asking the Council to call confer couraged by their Hanyang success, will exces of trade groups in order to promote launch their most severe attack yet made the merging of separate Unions there-
after. at Wuchang this evening.
artillery emplacement, which will now
revert to Southern use.
14
REDS " CAPTURE WUCHANG
AND HANKOW.
PING, September th H.M.S. Despatch; Lieut. Ridge of
The Southerners occupied Wuchang and H.M.S. Cockchafer.
Hankow yesterday. Wu Pei Fu retreated .M.S. HAWKINS" LEAVES FOR into Honan by train.
HANKOW,
SHANGHAI, September 8th. Harkins, from Weihaiwei,
A wireless message from Hankow states
The Wanhaien attempt was renewed on a date missing in the message received by naval authorities, but the expedition, apparently set out in "Messrs. Jardine, Matheson's steamer hidra, which the purpose. The Kinco encountered the Ecaviest fire alongside the s.. Fanheien, Hankow.
H.M.S.
An emergency resolution was carried expressing concern at the tendency by.. -the-present Government to interfere need... lessly with, the liberty of the subject and to utilise methods of repression in in- dustrial disputes The resolution also protested against the unwarranted ap- plication of emergency powers, notwith- standing the peaceful atmosphere in the mining dispute,"
A proposal by the General Council to
The ships were anchored alongside the 300 men, on board brought up field guns British navy had taken up river for that with the Admiral aboard, has left for that the Cántoriese have captured an im-impose a penny levy per member for the
Cockchafer, and Chinese soldiers were
H.B.M. Consul at Chungking proceeded posted behind cover with their rifles trait- ed on the Cockchafer, which was heavily to Wanhsien to protest against this act of piracy and to investigate the matter, outnumbered and immobilised
General Yang Sen refused to negotiate but informed General Yang Sen that be with the commanding officer of the Cock- fore a settlement could be discussed he must remove his troops from the two rhafer. Through the Minister at Peking British ships and he would then detain a message was sent to Wu Fei Eu at the vessels, whilst the case was being in- "Hankow making him to telegraph instrucvestigated. there. In order to emphasise tions to General Yang Sen to withdraw his good faith H.B.M. Consul undertook his soldiers, guaranteeing compensation to conduct an enquiry with the 5.4. if it were proved that any British ship Fantin present, if General Yang Sen had been to blame.
would withdraw his troops from the ships and place the vessels under the custody of the British gunboat.
Yang Sen's Stubbornness." The British Consul at Chungking pro- cecded to Waabsien 'on a river steamer, and on September 2nd he reported that he had interviewed General Yang Sen who was unyielding and declined to withdraw his troops except on conditiona that would bave allowed him to extract compensation from the steamship com- pany, without regard to the netual facts
of the case.
Naval Rescue.
47
- From reports received General Yang Sen refused the offer of negotiations and brought numbers of troops and field guns up to reinforce the troops in the two Vessels,
H.M. Ships Cockchafer and Widgeon with British 5.8, Aiavo effected by force
the release of all the officers of the 3.5. Wanksien and the Captain, and Chief Officer of the as. Fantung, who were confined on board. They were heavily fired on by rifles and field guns.
Fuller details are not available but
to refuel.
British Proposals.. On receipt of this report, the British Minister at Peking instructed the Consul to endeavour to secure the release of the two ships, by proposing to General Yang Sen that an enquiry should be held into the circumstances of the accidental sink ing of a junk by the Wanling that the
the The following casualties were suffered British officera. be released, and Chinese soldiers withdrawn from the by the rescuing party: Killed Wantung and the Wanhsien, which should then be detained in the custody of
meanwhile the gunboats have proceeded Heavy Casualty List,
a British gunboat pending the arrival Lieut. Higgins
of the Wanlin, and that a sum, mutually Commander Darley
to be agreed upon, should be deposited A. B. Farminer with some person or institution at Wan
Lieut. Ridge
hsien or Chungking pending the result Leading Smn. Haslam of the findings of the Court or Arbitra- A. B. Marrot tion Board.
Force Used..
WANHSIEN IN FLAMES.
It is reported officially that Wanhsien has been bombarded and is in fames. No details are to hand and it is unknown yet whether the two- captured British vessels have been recovered.
COAL DISPUTE.
THE OWNERS REMAIN OBDURATE.
OPPOSED TO A NATIONAL SETTLEMENT.
[BRITISH WIRELESS SERVICE.
RrGay, September 7th. The Central Committee of the Coal- owners met to-day. Afterwards, it was
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.
GERMANY NOW A MEMBER
"[THBOFGH EXUTER'S AGENCY.]'
GENEVA, September 8th.". The Assembly has unanimously admitted Germany into the League.
LATER.
The Assembly also unanimously voted
announced that the Committee endorsed the grant to Germany of a permanent every word that Mr, Evan Williams, President of the Coal-owners, had aid seat on the Council and increased the to Mr. Churchill and other members of number of non-permanent members of the Government yesterday in maintain the Council. ing his refusal to negotiate with the minera on a national basis. But in de ference to the wishes of Mr. Churchill it was decided to refer to constitutent Dis- trict Associations of Coal-owners the Cockchafer question as to whether they desired to reconstitute the Coal-owners Associations as a national negotiating body.
X.M.8. Despatch "Despatch Despatch
A. B. Farrow
"Dangerous Wounded.
Scarab Scarab Scarab
Scarab
Despite these conciliatory proposals, A. B. Beese General Yan Sen remained obdurate and
Wounded.
The Committee decided to meet again next Monday to receive the reports from the districts, it being considered unlike ly that any decision could be reached. Cocker by the districts before Friday or Satur. Mantia
day of this week Cockchafer The Coal Committee of the Cabinet Despatch
met again this afternoon, and it is D Mantis
derstood that they had before them these Montis
decisions of the Coal-owners' Committee, Scarab. It is stated that the Ministers expressed One Able Seaman
All officers and men mentioned except antistaction at the line taken by the Lieut. Comdr. Acheson and five A. E. in Coal-owners. Cockchafer were serving in 4.8. Kiawa at the time
his attitude stillened to one of defiance. Lt.-Comdr. Acheson It was only after all attempts at an Lieut. Fogg Elliott amicable settlement had failed, and in Five Able Seamen view of the dangerous and humiliatog Three Able Searces position of the two British steamers and Two Able Seamen the naval vessel Cockchafer, that the Que Stoker British shallow-draught gunboat Wid geon and the merchant steamer Kiawo, manned by a naval detachment, which had been ordered to proceed from Ichang to Wanhsien, were aathorised to use force as a last resource.
Heavy Firing.
On September 5th, the naval forces attempted to effect the release of the two steamers with their six British officers. They were assailed with very heavy field- gur and rife fire, to which they replied. They eventually-retired.
The Chinese casualties are at present unknown.
(THROCGK REUTER'S SERVICE.] Home Enquiries.
LONDON, September 7th. The China Committee of the Federation of British Industries held a special meet- ing to review the serious trend of events The captain of one of the steamers ap-in China, especially the detention of pears to have escaped, but there is no British Merchantmen. They have cabled news of the fire other mercantile officers to Shanghai asking for held as prisoners.
formation.
(THROUGH HAVAS AGENCY.] SPAIN AND MOROCCO. EVACUATION REPORT OFFICIALLY DENIED.
PARIS, September 8th.
Le Journal of San Sebastian, states
that the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs has formally denied the news from further in- en English source that Spain intended to
evacuate Morocca.
· COUNTER-REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA.
WHITE GUARDS CHARGED.
Rick September 7th The Soviet Press is giving great pro-
portant strategic position at Hanyang in the vicinity of Hankow, including the arsenal, which is the biggest. in China. PEKING, September 8th. The Southerners have captured Wu- chang and Hankow,
BRITAIN'S POLICY IN CHINA.
LONDON JOURNAL'S PERTINENT COMMENT.
LONDON, September 7th. The Daily Telegraph, commenting editorially on the incidents at Wanhsien and Canton, says: Our sole immediate concern is to protect our own people and their legitimate interests in the midst of this sanguinary confusion. It cannot be said that hitherto that responsibility has been embraced" as it should have been. "The Government is well aware that the opinion in Britain is unanimous that the action now taken at Canton has been too long delayed, and that persistence therein is now vital.
**In, both Canton and the Tangleze the utmost limits of toleration have been ex- ceeded, and it is high time something was done to convince all whom it may concern in China that British nationals there are not so helpless as Ita military
minance to the trial of twenty-seven despots clearly consider them to be.”
members of the White Guard, which be gan at Sevastopol yesterday. The accus" ed are charged with attempted counter- revolution.
THE SPANISH CRISIS.
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
The officers, Bezemkow, Bapalloky, natiot and others of General Wrangel's
MADRID, September. 7th. Army founded a counter-revolutionary organisation in 1922 to carry on pro-The Prime Minister's Office has issued paganda among White officers in the Red an official note to the Press stating that Army, and it is alleged that ten mem-.
thers of this organisation, headed by there does not remain a single Artillery Detilot, who was en route to Odessa Corps which he not submitted to the aboard the steamer Urish, seized the ship
Government. and compelled the captain to land at Varna, where they linked up with for- eign anti-Bolshevists.
next three years,
THE BANK CASE.
SURTHER DETAILS TO HAND.
ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL:
BOMBAY, September 7th. former Llewellyn Evans,
account-- ant of the Bombay branch of the Hong kong and Shanghai Bank, has been committed for trial on a charge of eri- minal breach of trust in respect of Government Securities valued at over Rs. 5 lakhs.
The prosecution stated that all the missing. securities had been recovered.
NEXT BRITISH MINISTER FOR
PEKING.
LONDON, September 7th. The Daily Telegraph says it is under stood that Mr. Miles Lampson, head of the Central European Department at the Foreign Office, will succeed Sir Ronald Macleay as British Minister in Feking,
[Mr. Miles Wedderburn Lampson, C.M.G., M.V.O., who was born on August 2nd, 1880, is the second son of the late Mr. Norman George Lampson. He was educated at Eton and entered the Foreign Office in 1902. He was Secretary to the Garter, Mission to Japan three. years later, acting Second Secretary at: Tokyo from 1008 to 1910; Bofia, 1911; acting First Secretary in Peking in 1918; and acting British High Commissioner in Siberia in 1920.]
RAILWAY SMASH CONFESSION.
BRELIN, September 7th. Arrested in a casual ward, a musician named Otto Slesinger, aged 21 years, and a mechanic named Willy Weber, aged 22, have confessed to responsibility for the railway smash at Lehrte on August
18th.
They said they had been unemployed and penniless for months and decided to derail the train and rob the passengers" The note declares that the law will be and mail. They loosened the rails, and the resultant spectacle that they fled, It is stated that the prisonere include rigorously carried out, but not vindichid in bushes, but were so horrified at M. Henrichson and members of his pro- tively, in order to make an example. It not waiting to rob. The deed preyed on brother at his father's grave, after which visional Cabinet, who were organized to foreshadows the withdrawal of Martial the mind of Weber, who confessed to his take over the, direction of affairs after
Law shortly. the overthrow of the Bolshevists
the police got on the trail.