Sir,
WATER POLICE STATION,
17th Jan. 1919.
412
About 4 p.m. on the 16th inst., I received telephone communications from the D.S.P. to the effect that an unknown launch had entered the Typhoon Shelter at Yaumati, and taken in tow a Chinese Gunboat Kwong Lee which has been lying there for over 12 months. I received instructions to make every endeavour to stop them before they reached Chinese Waters, and bring them back to Hongkong. I immediately despatched the Police Launch "Hapag" in charge of Sergt. Bond along with Sergt. Joy and 2 Chinese detectives. They overtook the launches near the entrance to Deep Bay, and ordered them to stop. The towing launch, which is believed to belong to the Customs Service was willing to do so, but the large one which was in tow and which was armed by at least a hundred men, the majority of whom were in uniform, and armed with Mauser rifles immediately cleared the ship for action trained the 4 inch gun, which she has mounted forward on the Police Launch and threatened to sink her, if they were interfered with. By threats they compelled the small towing launch to carry on and invited the Police to follow them to Tai Shan Custom Station, if they had any thing to say. As it was getting dark, and Sergt Bond, seeing the hopelesmess of his position against such a mob, considered discretion the better part of valour and returned to Hongkong arriving at Station
about 10 p.m.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) A. Gordon,
Hon. Captain Superintendent of Police.
Inspector.