CO129-563-17 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping. For extracted photographs see CN 3-12 27-9-1937 - 17-1-1938 — Page 74

Sir,

Hkg. Govt. No. 1411

Office of Chinese Maritime Customs

for Kowloon and

Marina House,

strict

15-19 Queen's Road Central.

HONG KONG

15th December, 1937.

744

I have the honour to inform you that the C.P.S. Chahsing, which was removed by Japanese armed forces after the vessel had been fired upon and beached near Black Point on Saturday afternoon, was recovered on Monday morning December 13th. Reports that a vessel, flying the Customs ensign, was ashore in Hai Mun Bay on Wong Kum Island reached the Customs at Lappa (Macao) on Monday morning. A Customs launch was sent to investigate and succeeded in towing the vessel into Macao.

The "Chahsing" does not appear to have suffered any structural damage except for a dent in the plating made by a shell, but the arms, excluding a three pound Hotchkiss gun, and a part of the ammunition on board had been removed, and the vessel had been thoroughly looted. It has not yet been possible to list the losses in this respect, but the private effects of the personnel together with all moveable articles have disappeared. Judging from the appearance of the vessel it would seem that those on board made their departure from the vessel in haste as certain useful articles were found strewn about on the

decks.

Eye-witnesses of the incident on Saturday afternoon reported that one of the first actions on the part of the Japanese sailors who boarded the vessel was to lower the Customs flag and hoist a Japanese flag in its place. When

The Honourable

The Inspector General of Police,

HỨNG KONG.