CO129-563-17 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping. For extracted photographs see CN 3-12 27-9-1937 - 17-1-1938 — Page 53

Captain GEORGE COOK,

Customs Cruiser "CHAHSING",

States:-

Enclosure No.3. 53

The crew consists of one European Engineer, two Chinese Officers, one boatswain, 20 ratings, 3 artificers, and 5 cabin hands. The cruiser is about 250 tons and her armament consists of one 3 pounder gun, 3 Lewis guns and usual small arms. Since the hostilities commenced the cruiser has been anchored in

Kowloon Bay. On the 11th December, 1937, I received instructions to proceed into DEEP BAY keeping in British Waters and to wait for further instructions with a view to landing a party of men for SHUM CHUN Customs Station. I had no instructions to carry out preventive work. At 12.00 noon on the 11th December, 1937, the cruiser sailed from Kowloon Bay via CAP SHUI MUN for DEEP BAY. At 14. 15 hours we passed BLACK POINT bearing east 3 cables, the course being altered into DEEP BAY, skirting the British coast (PING SHAN District). At 14.20 hours the ship was in an approximate position Lat 22, 25', 18" N. Long. 113, 54', 23" E. that is distance 0.7 m les from hill 452 (BLACK POINT).

opened from a destroyer which appeared to be a Japanese in a very

O

005°

When fire was

approximate position Lat. 22 27'20"N. Long. 113 52'00" E., that is 234 distance 1.3 miles from .W. Point (CHAK WAN). At 14.22

hours the engines was stopped and the cruiser swung stern onto the direction of destroyer. t 14. 24 hours the cruiser proceeded at full speed towards BLACK POINT. At 14.26 hours she was struck on the starboard side below the bridge by a richochet shell and the cruiser swung onto the beach at YUNG LUNG WAN, British Territory,

the cruiser being beached at 14.31 hours. At 14.35 hours the

cruiser was abandoned without anyone being injured or wounded. Before the ship was abandoned her two anchors were dropped. The firing continued the whole time the cruiser was manoeuvring, 4 or

5 shots being fired after the ship was beached. hen the ship was beached the destroyer proceeded to close in towards the ship and

lay in an approximate position Lat 22 25′40′′ N. Long. 113 53'35" E.

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