CO129-579-3 Sino-Japanese War- shipping 30-10-1938 - 23-12-1939 — Page 58

DOUGLAS LAPRAIK & CO.,

General anagers

Hong Kong & Amoy.

COPY.

The Honourable

Mr. R. A. C. North,

Colonial Secretary,

Hong Kong.

Sir,

58

DOUGLAS STEAMSHIP COMPANY, LIMITED

P. & 0. BUILDING,

5th floor,

Hong Kong, 29th August, 1939.

S. S. "HAITAN"

We have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your

letter of the 24th inst. re the above vessel striking a mine,

and in reply we have to advise that we consider it can be

safely assumed that the mine which caused the damage was of

Japanese origin.

Firstly, because the Japanese Authorities after this

accident gave notification through various channels that they

had laid mines in this vicinity.

Secondly, Japanese Mine Layers were known to have been

working in this locality.

Thirdly, a number of pieces of the mine were blown

inboard at the time of the explosion and were found by the

local Naval experts and our own Officers immediately after the

No.1 Hold was cleared of water in dry dock, and they bear

markings which will undoubtedly be proved at a later date to

be of Japanese origin. About thirty pieces of the mine are

now held by our Naval Authorities.

The following extract from "Domel", Tokyo, July 28th,

1939, is rather an important statement regarding the actual

position and it seems to be of a semi-official nature:-

"BRITISH STEAMER STRIKES BOOM ON FUKIEN COAST"

"The British steamer "Haitan" struck a boon sunk by

Japanese Naval forces and was badly damaged with a big

leak sprung in the Hold while sailing from Amoy for

Hinghwa