56
into the ses near the junks, but they did not cease firing
She was therefore compelled to fire on the junks
as before.
themselves.
At 8.15 8.m. a member of the crew was seriously
Moreover, of the first group of
wounded by an enemy shot.
six junks, four co-operated in resisting the patrol vessel
who therefore returned their fire. The two others, which
were at some distance to the south, offered no resistance
whatever and were accordingly not fired at at all and were
allowed to go free.
Then, at 8.30 a.m. the patrol vessel sighted
& second group of six junks at about 8,000 metres to the
north-east and sailed towards them. At 9.05 a.m. when
she was at a distance of about 600 metres, this group also
opened fire on her with rifles, which she therefore returned
after going through the same procedure as in the case of
the first group.
At 9.20 a.m. the crew of one of the junks in
the centre of the group but somewhat apart from the rest
were seen to be lowering a raft and escaping to it.
Having had a member of her crew seriously wounded
&s the result of the Chinese attack, it was necessary
for the patrol vessel to return urgently to her flagship
for medical attention and it was further necessary for
her to join her flagship promptly for strategical reasons.
She was therefore obliged to leave the spot without taking
further action. On the other hand, the flagship, immediately
on receipt of a repcrt of the above events, made full speed
towards the patrol vessel, met her and took off the wounded
sailor. The flagship then reached the neighbourhood of the
place at 6 p.m. and engaged in a vigorous search.
She was,
however, unable to discover any survivors and accordingly
abandoned