CO129-579-12 Sino-Japanese War- bombing of railway line within leased territories (Shamchun Incident) 21-2-1939 - 17-3-1939 — Page 100

Limes,

Y 22 1939

22

2.

AIR RAID NEAR HONG-KONG

BOMBS ON BRITISH TERRITORY

PROTEST TO JAPAN

From Our Correspondent

HONG-KONG, FEB. 21 Japanese aeroplanes, after bombing Shamchun this morning, crossed the border and dropped bombs in the Hong- kong "New Territories," killing eight adults and three children. The Governor of Hong-kong, Sir Stafford Northcote, who was in residence at his bungalow at Fanling, saw some of the bombing and inspected the scene with Brigadier Grasett. The Governor immediately sent a strong protest to the Japanese authori- ties at Canton and is reporting fully to the Colonial Office.

Responsible quarters are inclined to believe that the bombing was done by over-ambitious airmen. The raiders attacked a train a mile and a half inside Hong-kong territory, and the Japanese

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(2020)

CANTON

Canton R

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Miles

20 30 40

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HONG KONG (British)

should have known that there were no trains running on the Chinese section. Confusion probably exists in Japanese minds over the actual border, which is the northern bank of the Shamchun River, whereas the river and the two bridges are in British territory.

39.

REFUGEES FIRED ON

The bombing occurred soon after 9 o'clock, when nine aeroplanes bombed Shamchun City, which suffered severely. The raiders continued along the railway, dropping two bombs near the refugee hos- pital in the old casino at Shamchun. Refugees fleeing towards Hong-kong are reported to have been fired on with machine-guns. Many wounded have entered Hong-kong and have been taken to hospital, where some have already died.

Six of the aeroplanes continued along the railway, and after crossing the Hong- kong border bombed the railway bridge at Lowu and the new road bridge, but with- out success. Three of the machines turned back and dropped 10 bombs near the Customs and wireless station just beyond the border, damaging them extensively and killing several Chinese, while the European officers had narrow escapes. Three aero- planes continued into Hong-kong territory, where two of them dropped four bombs near Lowu bridge.

One bomb landed on the railway and another made a direct hit on the cook- house near the military post 200 yards from the bridge. Since the incidents of last December police, including Indians and Chinese, have manned this block- house, under a European sergeant. This bomb killed an Indian policeman, Surda Singh, and seven Chinese refugees who were sheltering near the blockhouse. Two other bombs fell on the river bank among refugees, on whom the aeroplanes then fired with machine-guns, killing a Chinese revenue officer and another Chinese.

TRAIN ATTACKED

The raiders then attacked a mixed passenger and goods train which had halted a mile and a half from the border. The first bomb fell beside the engine, and two more on either side of the train. splintering one side of a carriage. The passengers, including two Europeans, fled into the open, and only one Chinese was slightly injured. Some reports state that the raiders fired on the passengers. The station building at Lowu and a group of carriages in a siding which are used as police quarters were also fired on with machine-guns. Altogether seven bombs were dropped in British territory. The aeroplanes are reported to have circled over British military encampments, and then to have followed the river, bombing and firing on the villagers.

Troops from The Middlesex Regiment, The Royal Scots, and the Kumaon Rifles deployed along the border, but later with- drew, leaving in charge the police, who closed all roads in the vicinity. So far some 3,000 refugees have entered Hong- kong, including about 100 wounded. It is believed that 100 Chinese were killed in Chinese territory.

DIPLOMATIC ACTION IN

TOKYO

FROM OUR DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT

Sir Robert Craigie, the British Ambas- sador in Tokyo, is to protest strongly against Japanese bombing attacks yester- day morning on British territory near Hong-kong.

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