THE BATTLE OF SULPHUR CHANNEL.
10 -
the attack he was about to make with tor Commodore Dolland had been in constant pedo-boats and harbour defence vessels. communication with the General, who now
As a fact the fast Russian steamer Harba- expected a diversion by the Navy, and as rousk, of 905 tons, Capt. Kitaeff, with 750 no other attacks had been developed, pre-men of the Nerchitinsk regiment aboard, pared to take the offensive and assault with accompanied by the Torpedo Destroyers all his reserves.
Borgo and Revel, under Lt.-Commanders
The Commodore was playing whist aboard | Ptachimoskey and Troyaa, had, passing well the Victor Emanuel at 11.10 p.m., when to the Westward of the Little Ladrones, Mackie's letter was delivered to him. De suddenly appeared off the Chinese Customs Horsey of the Plover, his own Commander | Station at Chung Chow in the Macao (Naylor) and Barlyou Cellairs, his torpedo Passage. lieutenant, were of the party. The Wirern had only the week before had her half- yearly commission and cruise, so she was coaled, but her provisions and ammunition had been returned into store.
Landing a hundred and fifty soldiers they took possession of the Station and seized the two armed Customs launches, the Chop Sing and Hai Kwan. The Chop Sing was sent to cruise off Green Island, where, even if she had been observed, she
would be recognized as a Customs launch and would excite no suspicion-it being the usual eruising ground for watching for opium smugglers from the Colony.
Naylor and his ship's company were at once sent off to the Wivern, off the Torpedo Depot, to get up steam, and seamen and stokers from the Plower seat to man the Tweed. Lt. Flumer was sent down to the town to get hold of any large launches that
Proceeding with all despatch the Har had steam up (fires being out in the Dock-boersk and two Destroyers, going North yard boats) to tow the Wivern and Treed of Lantao, stopped at 9.30 p.m. off Cap- across to the Man-of-War anchorage to sui-moon. That station was also seized and facilitate putting their ammunition on held, with two hundred men; the two board. Brice-Prowne, the Lieutenant of armed launches Kose Shui and Fun Say Marines, was ordered to parade his men and being taken possession of. Pushing on to proceed to the scene of action. The Plover's Chin Wan Bay tho Destroyers ran along- Marines to join his party. Cellairs and side and captured the Feihoo, Chinese his two torpedo gunners (Smith and Revenue Cruiser, whilst the Harbarovsk Tanyard), as well as the Gunner of the went in as close as the water allowed, and Victor (Larka) proceeded to the Torpedo with the aid of native boats quickly landed Depot. The Plover was in the Dockyard 300 men to cut the land lines and hands, with her engines useless, so De patrol the short strip to Tolo Harbour, Horsey was ordered to send Sub. Lt. Men- Having dropped her men the Harborovsk, zies Leslie, and his gunner (Soper) to take accompanied by the Fethoo, the Revel, and charge of torpedo boats.
Kow Shui, proceeded for Green Island
It is necessary now to refer to movements about midnight, sweeping well round to of the Russians of which we had at this the Westward. The Fan Son was left at time no knowledge-the three ships report- Cap-sui-moon to bring to everything that ed from Aberdeen being the only ones of passed. The crews of all the junks, boats whose existence we wore then aware, &e. there boing landed on the island, the though the Commodore was of opinion that vessels were scuttled. The Borgo, as soon the troopships were bound to have some as the Feihoo had been seized, proceeded cover and support to guard them from just fullspeed up the River, and about 15 miles
11-
above Deep Bay ran alongside the Fatshan | class-torpedo boats broad on each bow, (Capt. Dick) and Powan (Capt. Goggin) at about a quarter of a mile off and a cable anchor there, and captured them. Leaving apart.
The Harbour was ablaze with lights.
prize crews on board, the Pasig and Tai On were similarly seized, about two miles Major Findley, R. E., as soon as he had farther up. Leaving her prizes with orders sent arms and ammunition up by tram for to follow as fast as they could, the Borgo the Engineers at Mount Austin, betook returned at her utmost speed to rejoin her himself to his station in the West, and as consorts at the rendezvous off Green soon as steam could be raised in the Solent, with Tundall and Standardman, and seve
Island.
A third Destroyer, the Soeaborg (Lt.-ral passenger launches, was busy laying Comr. Chriptovitch), had accompanied the mines. Mugent, Johnson and Rabber, three large troopers, keeping about a mile with the Miner, and other launches, had to the eastward, and so had not been seen gone to their stations at Lyeemun and and reported by Meugena and Hazeland. Stonecutters, and were sirailarly employed. This vessel had seized the armed Custom's Steam had been got up for the dynamos, launch Kaipan Lu off Stanley, and with and the search-lights were playing in all her had remained patrolling the mouth of directions. The merchant ships were Deep Water Bay to cover the troopers. all getting up steam; before, how- Each transport had moreover carried two ever, they could move Lieut.-Commdr. second-class torpedo boats, which had been De Horsey, and Sub-Lt. Dayley, with a first hoisted out before a troop-boat was sufficient force, were sent round all the lowered, At 1 a.m. the second-class foreign vessels by the Commodore's orders torpedo boats were sent outside Aplichan, to disable their engines by taking off their towards Green Island. Previous to that eccentric straps. The sailing ships had they had been busily employed towing round neither crews on board nor sails bent. some forty odd large junks and house-boats; It not being known yet what nation or from Aberdeen to Deep Water Bay, to as- nations were making this treacherous at- sist in re-embarking the troops in case of tack on us, the Commodore swore ali should a reverse. By 2 a.m. the Borgo rojoined suffer alike. British vessels, under the the Harbarovsk, Revel and Feihoo off Green | directions of the Queen's Harbour Master Island. The Chop Sing was placed in the Staff Commander Jones, and the Master deep shade close to the landing place at Attendant of the Yard (Commander Harnot Green Island, moored with slip ropes hend- Enderson), were being moored in tiers in ing Eastwards. The Row Shui was simi- Wanchai, as close in as the depth of water larly moored just North of Green Island would allow. Nine German, one Swede, and east of the red sector of light showing two Chinese, three Japanese and two Nor. over Kellett's Bank. Two of the second-wegian steamers were left at their moor- class torpedo boasts were at anchor as close ings. Neither Frenchmen nor Danes were in as they could get to the rocks under in the port. The native craft were making Mount Davis, just round S. and E. of the over to Sam Shui Po as fast as they could, range-finding staf.
No launches were allowed to leave, all be- The Feihoo lay with a kedge down about ing requisitioned for Naval and Military a mile S.S.W. covered by Green Island use.
from Stonecutters, with the Borgo on her Naylor was ready to start by 2 a.m. in starboard, and Revel on her port quarter the Wivern, with Flumer in the Tweed, well aft and almost astern, and two second-Cellsirs in lat class torpedo boat No. 71,
14
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.