1937-09-07 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL SEPTEMBER 7, 1937.

JAPANESE AIR

BASE ON PRATAS

Sensational First-Hand Story Of Naval Raid

REFUGEES NOW IN COLONY

TELL OF TORTURE

WIRELESS

STATION

SYSTEMATICALLY

WRECKED

("CHINA MAIL" EXCLUSIVE)

MR. BING THREATENED

se-

the

NERVOUS WRECKS "This procedure carried on veral times in the course of night and we were all nervous wrecks by morning.

01

"The next morning, Sunday, all the lighthouse staff were ordered to don full uniforms and with us "I was questioned as to the wherewere taken out in motor-boats abouts of Mr. Bing, who, the Ja-the destroyer. The other destroyer panese said they knew was on the was patrolling the Island island. In point of fact, Mr. Bing had visited the Island with the light-naval men, were then placed in the

"The lighthouse staff, who house relief but had left on the brig, as prisoners of war and we 31st.

were told that we could take the "The Japanese alleged that Mr. small motor-bost - the other four

are

of the distance, we were given 15 "I told the Japanese commander more and eventually set off on our

Sensational revelations, including definite Bing had been reported to have ill-on the island had been destroyed-- evidence of serious Japanese losses in their engage treated Japanese fishermen who and make for Hong Kong. We were ment with the Amoy Forts, were furnished to the had, at various times put in to the only allowed five tins of gaosoline, “China Mail” this morning, when the first direct into shoot him without further ado five tins would not take us any part island. They said they were going however. On begging for more, as formation was supplied by refugees from the Pra-when they caught him. tas Islands, concerning the Japanese naval raid on that Mr. Bing had left the Island voyage. the islands and seizure of the atoll.

but he accused me of lying and 12 The grim story was brought to the Colony this was then tied up in the same way morning by the staff of the Sea, Products Company, beaten for some time an organisation controlled by Mr. George Bing, which has been trading from the Pratas for some time.

Amazing stories of Japanese atrocities are re vealed. Both the light-house staff and members of the Sea Products Company were tortured and browbeaten and at least three are missing, believed to be dead.

—

FIRED ON When we as the director after I had been yards away, we heard the crash of were a few hundred. death any second at the hands of near us and

expecting guns but fortunately no shells fell the marine with the hammer stand-good fortune to the bad marks- can only thank our ing behind me they desisted on manship of the naval gunners. of Mr. Bing. being told the Hong Kong address "While the Japanese were

on the Island, I heard NIGHT TERRORISM

them say I understand “At 10 p.m. I really though that Japanese

a - little this time I was to be killed. I was to turn the island into a seaplane that they were going

▸

once again led out and questioned base and for that purpose we were

the fishermen.

about the alleged bad treatment of forced to assist in the landing of

some 500 cases of aviation spirit. “After this, the entire party

41-HOUR VOYAGE prisoners was led out On our voyage here, we were empty space which buffetted and tossed by a force 5 the same. procedure repeated made the journey to the Colony in-

Most interesting is the news garnered by the No. 1 of the company by the aid of a slight know of ledge of Japanese. Two of the destroyers, which into the had just taken part in the raid on Amoy, brought| we now all viewed with horror, and gale but aided by a following wind ashore some 20 of their dead and cremated them on being forced to kneel down in front 41 hours and needless to say, are the Island.

of the gaping muzzles of the ma-jall very glad to reach the security chine-guns.

of British waters.""

They also landed some 500 cases of aviation spirit and announced their intention of turning the sheltered lagoon at Pratas into a seaplane base.

The destroyers were seen to leave istration Building of the Sea-Pro- shortly after the Sea Products staff ducts Company and driven all the had been liberated in a small boat, occupants to where the lighthouse and made off in "the direction of people were still kneeling and Swatow leaving a garrison of mari-forced them to do likewise. The nes together with various machine names of all the men were then guns and anti-aircraft guns. taken down and they were all herd- Interviewed this morning, Cheungled into the lighthouse and locked Chi, No. 1 of the Sea Products Com-up in a tiny room. All the other pany said.

rooms had since been taken over by the Japanese garrison.

FRIDAY MORNING

"On Friday morning, the trouble FORMAL POSSESSION - first started. One Japanese destroy- The following morning, Saturday. er appeared off the Island and an-the officer commanding the Japan- chored off the shore. A large party ese destroyer, formally took posses- of marines then landed, bringing sion of the Island. At noon an ae- with them, two machine guns and cusation was levelled at the Light- two anti-aircraft guns.

house occupants that they had been "They first surrounded the Wire- concealing arms. Upon Director Lee less Station and then forced the in- King-long, refusing to divulge the mates to open up to them. They whereabouts, he was taken out of entered the building and without the building, and a sharp knife tied, any reason that was at all appar-by means of a towel in a vertical ent, turned everything up-side-down.position on the crown of his head,

PLACE WRECKED while a muscular marine stood be Bedding, chairs, desks, were hind him with a hammer, with which turned over and wrecked, curtains he threatened to drive the knife deep were torn down Their work of de-into his skull should the answers struction completed, all the light not prove satisfactory. house staff were taken out of the

TORTURE

ilding and made to kneel down "Not satisfied with this, two mari- an empty space. Machine-guns nes held bayonets at his sides. re then trained on the thorough while a Japanese officer belaboured

who thought they the unfortunate man with his fists. be shot.

"What

a party of marines the torture,

outcome of not able

de their way to the Admin-to say because my turn came alo

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