CHINESE PIRATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 211, 7 September 1927, Page 7

CHINESE PIRATES.

PUNISHED BY BRITISH

Had Captured Steamer Flying British Flag.

THESE GUNBOATS IN ACTION.

(British Official Wireless.)

(Keceived 12.30 pan.) RUGBY, September 6. A further outbreak by Chinese pirates has received prompt punishment by the British naval authorities. On September 1, at Koochow, a Chinese-owned steamer flying the British flag was captured by pirates, about 15 miles from Samshui, on the West River.

The chief engineer, a British subject named Black, was killed and thrown overboard and the ship was taken to Taipinghu, a large village inhabited by piratea, where 100 Chinese passengers and the staff of the captured vessel were held for ransom. This was the third piracy from Taipinghu this year.

Two days later three British gunboats, the Cicada, the Moth, and the Moorhen, ordered the inhabitants to leave and then burned a number of houses and native craft adjoining the pirate village of Shekki. After it had been evacuated tho village was shelled as a demonstration against piracy. There were no casualties among the British or Chinese.

Telegrams from the Yangtse centre confirm the reports that the Northern forces, who crossed to the southern bank of the river, have suffered a reverse.

The Nanking Nationalists have taken many prisoners, and, it is stated, have regained Pukow.