STOPPED BY JAPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 23, 27 January 1940, Page 9

STOPPED BY JAPS.

British Passenger Ship On Chinese Coast. RETALIATORY ACTION? (Ilccclvod 11 n.m.) -VEW YORK, January 20. The United Press correspondent at Shanghai says the British authorities have reported that a Japanese warship halted and detained for 11 hours a British coastal passenger ship, the Wing Sang. It has not been determined whether or not the action was retaliatory, but officials arc inclined to regard the incident as in the course of routine. The Associated Press of America quotes the captain of the Wing Sang as saying that the ship was halted on Wednesday oil' Foochow by a shot across her bows. A boarding party inspected the passengers and demanded a signed statement that the ship had been searched in retaliation for the Asama Maru incident. This the captain refused. A British official wireless message states that Britain's reply to Japan's Asama Maru protest will be presented by the British Ambassador to Japan, Sir Kobert Craigic, at the earliest practicable moment. Meanwhile, there is 110 disclosure ill London of the terms of the Note, but the hope is expressed that it will lead to an honourable settlement of the incident. The Japanese passenger liner Hakusan Maru, owned by the Nippon Yusen Kaisya Line, sailed from San Pedro, California, for Yokohama last night with 39 German seamen on board. The X.Y.K. Line's ruling of yesterday that 110 Germans subject to military duly will be accepted as pasesngers is being circumvented, it is believed, by the men taking an oath that they are not rpturning for military service. The Osaka Shosen Kaisya Line ani nounced to-day that it will refuse to 1 accept any further German bookings I for the duration of the war. Over 30 Germans are on board this line's motor ship Buenos Ay res Maru,- which was »scheduled to sail last night.