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the Master of the S.S. Wanliu did not stop, but continued to Wan Hsien, where, about 2 p.m., he signalled to H.M.S. Cockchafer for assistance. The remainder of the troops from Yun Yang, who had tried to board the S.S. Wantiu there, arrived at Wan Hsien twenty minutes later in the American S.S. I Ping, in which they had commandeered passage, and after apparently reporting what had happened they lined the foreshore abreast the Wanliu in a threaten- ing manner. An armed guard was then sent from the Cockchafer, the 16 soldiers who during the passage up had seized the Compradore and threatened to kill the Master were disarmed and sent ashore, and the ship shortly after proceeded on her voyage up stream.
When S S. Wanliu had sailed, it was discovered that General Yang Sen had meanwhile put a large force of soldiers on board the S.S. Wanhsien, another steamer belonging to Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, then at anchor off the town after which the steamer is named. He declined to negotiate with the Captain of H.M.S. Cockchafer, and stated he would only do so with the British Consul at Chung King. On the evening of the same day (29th), S.S. Wantung, of the same Company, arrived and was promptly boarded by a number of armed soldiers, who took possession of the ship and posted snipers with orders to fire on any boat approaching from H.M.S. Cockchafer. The officers of both the merchant ships were detained, and requests for their release and for the removal of the troops on board were ignored.
On September 1st, His Majesty's Consul at Chung King arrived at Wan Hsien, and negotiations with General Yang Sen were begun. The Consul requested the release of the two British ships and their officers, promising British cooperation in a proper legal enquiry into the alleged sinking of the sampan by the S.S. Wanliu. General Yang, however, flatly declined to comply with his request until the "WANLIU” question had been settled. Finally, the Consul was obliged to warn General Yang that it might be necessary to resort to extreme measures if he declined to take any notice of these official protests against his illegal action, and reminded him that the responsibility of any grave occurrence would be his.
H.M.S. Widgeon arrived at Wan Hsien from Chung King on 3rd September. The deadlock still existed, but movements of troops ashore indicated that Yang Sen's intentions were not pacific.
In face of the illegal seizure of two British vessels and the forcible detention of their officers, and of the definite refusal of General Yang Sen to take any steps to remedy the situation, it was necessary to take action. Acquiescence in carrying armed troops, which in- volved a British breach of neutrality, was impossible. The S.S. Kiawo was therefore taken over at I Chang by His Majesty's Navy and
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manned by a Naval Contingent under the command of Commander Darley, R.N. She sailed on September 4th for Wan Hsien, with the intention of rescuing the officers and, if possible, releasing the ships. Hopes were entertained that pacific counsels might prevail when it appeared that definite steps for rescue were being taken.
Unfortunately, this proved not to be the case. It was observed from H.M.S. Cockchafer that on the morning of 5th September the troops on board the S.S. Wanhsien and S.S. Wantung were being reinforced. At about 6.30 p.m., the Kiawo arrived off the town of Wan Hsien and went alongside the S.S. Wanhsien. A party from the Kiawo then went on board the Wanhsien to rescue the officers confined in the latter ship. Immediately Chinese soldiers under cover in the Wanhsien opened fire upon the rescue party. This was at 6.30 p.m. Directly the first shots were fired, the Kiavo, H.M.S. Cockchafer and H.M.S. Widgeon all came under a heavy rifle, machine-gun and field-gun fire from entrenched positions on shore, and also from the soldiers on the S.S. Wantung.
His Majesty's gunboats at first returned the fire from the two ships only, to facilitate the rescue of the imprisoned officers. As, however, a heavy and continuous fire was directed upon them from soldiers in houses and streets in the city, and from entrenched positions on both sides of the river, this fire was eventually returned, and some field-guns were silenced and certain attacking positions were set on fire or destroyed.
At about 7.15 p.m., the Kiawo, having effected the rescue of the officers on board the S.S. Wanhsien in spite of heavy losses, proceeded under the stern of the S.S. Wantung. The Captain of this vessel, with the Chief Officer and the Chief Engineer, had climbed over the stern rail and had taken refuge on the rubbing strake, whence the two latter attempted to swim to the French gunboat Doudart De Lagree, The Chief Officer reached this vessel, but the Chief Engineer was either drowned or shot in the water. His body has not been found,
The Kiaro took off the Captain, and as the primary object of the operation was then accomplished, and any further attempt to release the vessels would only have led to further bloodshed, the Kiawo stood down river, at 7.25 p.m.,, followed at intervals of ten minutes by H.M.S. Wulgeon and H.M.S. Cockchafer, All these ships were heavily fired upon from both river banks below the town.
The British casualties were, on the Kiawn three officers and four men killed and one officer and seven men wounded; on H,M.S. Cockchafer one officer and five men wounded.
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