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threatened the inspection station, placing a quick- firer on board a launch and landing at the inspection station. They sent in a card bearing the name of Commander Fitzgerald, officer commanding the West
River Flotilla (note that a British naval officer should describe himself as being in charge of the "West River Flotilla") and asked the official in charge of the ins- pection station to come on board and discuss matters.
The inspection station accordingly sent detective Chen Han-ping on board the British gunboat, where the offi- cer in comand demanded the release of the S.S. "Tai On", together with the kerosene on which no tax hed been paid, otherwise forcible intervention would be used, the inspection station fired on, and (the occu- pants) killed. In future, vessels running between Hong Kong and Wuchow must not be subjected to inspect- ion, and if they persisted, fire would be opened. A reply was demanded within five minutes, failing which forcible action would be taken. Chen replied that this matter had already been reported to the government, and he could not take it upon himself to contravene
The British the regulations and release the "Tai On" gunboat then forcibly drew up the Tai On's anchor and she moved off, the inspection station having no means of stopping her. They were also compelled to hand back the arms and ammunition which had been found on the Tai
On. After this incident, the S.S. Kong Nong, which formerly had always flown the Chinese flag, arrived at Dosing on the 9th instant, and stopped for inspection. H..S. "Moth" thereupon sent a launch to tell the Kong
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