COPY
50
7
CAPTA'S STATEMENT.
To Messrs. Williamson & Co.,
HEG KONG.
Dear Sirs,
S. S. "ASIAN",
Sea,
20th February, 1938.
I beg to report for your information that the
S. S. "ASIAN" under my command sailed from Hong Kong at 9 a.m.
on the 7th February, in accordance with previous orders, for Parseval Bay, Haiphong, in ballast.
Weather misty, visibility three miles.
At 11.15 a. m. a Japanese Cruiser, (three funnels) which turned out to be H.I.J.. "Nagara" was sighted near A
Chau Island.
On my passing Ling Ting Island steering to pass two miles off Gap Rock at 12.50 p.m. she closed me at full speed and with signals flying ordered me to stop engines.
A boarding party consisting of ten Officers and
one hundred men in a Motor Launch wi ti. cutter in tow then came
alongside fully armed, the sailors with fixed bayonets. I was ordered by their Commanding Officer to produce all ship's papers and was then cross questioned for two hours, during this time the ship was ordered to anchor, our position being 31 miles North of Gap Rock at Lat.21.53 North, Long. 113'56E. A Destroyer also closed at this time and anchored two cables
astern.
After this investigation I was instructed to accompany two Officers around the ship to thoroughly search
Officers' cabins. Stating with my own everything was inspected and searched, also the Crews' quarters, holds and engine room, a guard with fixed bayonets being posted at each Officer's cabin and W.T.Cabinet. Signals were being exchanged during this time with the "Nagara" and finally I was informed
that the ship was captured. I protested, pointing out that