CO129-570-10 Sino-Japanese War- Japanese seizure of the S.S. ASIAN- claims 15-2-1938 - 12-12-1938 — Page 57

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

56

COPY

STATEMENT OF WIRELESS OPERATOR.

The S. S. "ASIAN" sailed from Hong Kong to Parseval (French Indo-China) on the 7th February, 1938, at 9 a.m. About

12.45 p.m. the ship stopped, and I came out of the wireless room and saw two Japanese Warships standing by the Ship "Asian".

I saw a boat alongside the "Asian" and the Japanese sailors were boarding the vessel. After a few minutes another

boat came alongside the "Asian" altogether more than one hundred Japanese Officers and sailors boarded the ship "Asian". They started to search the whole ship, the Captain attempted to send a message to Commodore, Hong Kong, but was not allowed to

do so.

About 1 p.m. some Japanese sailors came into the Wireless room and told me not to send or broadcast any message, but I was still keeping watch. About 1.50 p.m. another few Japanese Officers and sailors came into the Wireless room and seached all the Wireless papers. I was told to leave the Wireless room and they searched my cabin. After the search they took away the keys of my cabin, and the Wireless room. They fixed up their one short wave transmitter (low power) in the Wireless room, and used it to work with the Destroyer.

During the voyage, one Japanese wireless operator was put on duty in the Wireless room, he used the wireless apparatus night and day. I was warned by the Japanese Officer commanding the "Asian", that if I sent or broadcasted any message, all the Crew, including Officers and Captain would be killed.

About 5.15 p.m. the "Asian" proceeded towards north, escorted by the Japanese Destroyer 23. On the 9th February, the Captain was permitted to send a message to his wife, and that message was sent by the Japanese wireless operator. On the same day I requested the Japanese wireless operator to listen to the

traffic list from Cape Daguilar radio (VPS) and there was one

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.