BRITISH SHIP ATTACKED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22268, 6 December 1937, Page 9

BRITISH SHIP ATTACKED

MACHINE-GUN FIRE BY JAPANESE ONE KILLED AND MANY INJURED ATTEMPT TO DISCOVER FATE OF NUNS (CNITED PRESS iSSOCIATION COPTOIOTT.; (Received December 5, 11 p.m.) SHANGHAI, December 4. The steamer Siushan, 296 tons, owned by the Taikoo Chinese Navigation Company, and registered at Hong Kong as a British vessel, was machine-gunned while approaching Tungming Island from Shanghai. One member of the Chinese crew was killed, and another slightly injured. The vessel was commanded by a Scotsman, Captain N. McMillan. The passengers included Mr E. B. Boothby, the British Vice-Consul in Shanghai. The vessel was going to Tungming, which is at present under Japanese control, to discover what occurred to nine French-Canadian missionary nuns, who have not been heard from for three months. It is learned that the Japanese had been notified of the purpose of the visit. The Siushan was flying the Red Ensign and had Union Jacks painted conspicuously on her sides. After the machine-gunning the vessel returned to > Shanghai. The Siushan carried three British naval ratings as an armed guard. There were several hundred Chinese passengers, several of whom were slightly injured. The machine-gun opened fire when the ship was a few hundred yards froiu the island. The passengers scurried to shelter. It is established that the shots fired at the Siushan came from a Japanese machine-gun nest.