DOUGLAS LAPRAIK & CO.,
General anagers
Hong Kong & Amoy.
COPY.
The Honourable
Mr. R. A. C. North,
Colonial Secretary,
Hong Kong.
Sir,
58
DOUGLAS STEAMSHIP COMPANY, LIMITED
P. & 0. BUILDING,
5th floor,
Hong Kong, 29th August, 1939.
S. S. "HAITAN"
We have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your
letter of the 24th inst. re the above vessel striking a mine,
and in reply we have to advise that we consider it can be
safely assumed that the mine which caused the damage was of
Japanese origin.
Firstly, because the Japanese Authorities after this
accident gave notification through various channels that they
had laid mines in this vicinity.
Secondly, Japanese Mine Layers were known to have been
working in this locality.
Thirdly, a number of pieces of the mine were blown
inboard at the time of the explosion and were found by the
local Naval experts and our own Officers immediately after the
No.1 Hold was cleared of water in dry dock, and they bear
markings which will undoubtedly be proved at a later date to
be of Japanese origin. About thirty pieces of the mine are
now held by our Naval Authorities.
The following extract from "Domel", Tokyo, July 28th,
1939, is rather an important statement regarding the actual
position and it seems to be of a semi-official nature:-
"BRITISH STEAMER STRIKES BOOM ON FUKIEN COAST"
"The British steamer "Haitan" struck a boon sunk by
Japanese Naval forces and was badly damaged with a big
leak sprung in the Hold while sailing from Amoy for
Hinghwa