CO129-500-4 Canton situation- governor's despatches 15-9-1927 - 24-11-1927 — Page 69

Enclosure No./.

Translation.

69

Min Kuo Jih Pao, August 17th, 1927.

Brutal oppression by British gunboat (continued).

ed.

Subsequently, at 1 p.m. on August 8th, the Bri-

tish gunboat H..S. "Moth" arrived opposite Dosing,

where she stopped and took the covers off her guns

which she then turned towards and threatened the

Dosing Inspection Station. A British navel officer

was then seen to lead several sailors into a launch

in which they landed and proceeded to the inspection

station, where the inmediate release was demanded

both of the "Taiming" and of the culprit who had been detained, failing which an armed party would be land-

The official in charge of the inspection station,

Shen Kwang-chow, in view of the fact that he had

instructions to detain the ship and the culprit, did

not dare to release them, and accordingly refused.

The naval officer paid no attention to this and order-

ed the Taiming to get up steam, and at the same time

ordered sailors to land, armed with rifles and carrying

files. They then forced their way into the detention

room of the inspection station and cut free the cul- prit who was detained there, sending him on board the

Taiming, and at the same time ordered the "Tai Ping

Shan" and the "Ya Hsi Ya", two boats which were de-

tained there in connection with the smuggling of

kerosene, to start up their engines and clear off. In view of its inferior military strength, the inspect-

ion station was unable to resist, and had to let them go.

Again, at 10 a.m. on the 9th instant, the

British gunboat "Moth" once more appeared off Dosing and

threatened