AMETHYST ESCAPES DOWN YANGTSE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25870, 1 August 1949, Page 7

AMETHYST ESCAPES DOWN YANGTSE

Fired On By Communist Shore Batteries NO CASUALTIES OR DAMAGE (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) HONG KONG, July 31. The British sloop Amethyst, which has been held as a hostage on the Tangtse river since April 28, has escaped from the Chinese Communists. She reached the mouth of the Yangtse this morning after a daring seven-and-a-half-hours’ flight in pitch darkness under Communist fire and through flooded walers. She suffered no casualties or damage. A statement issued in the name of the Commander-in-Chief in the Far East, Vice-Admiral Sir Patrick Brind, said: “About 10 p.m. last night the Amethyst slipped her cable, in defiance of her gaolers, to escape down river. She immediately came under heavy fire from the shore batteries which have been watching her for months, and had frequently threatened her destruction. She managed to get past this initial opposition, however, and at 1 a.m. by skilful navigation and without the help of a pilot she reached the Kaingyin Forts, where again she came under heavy fire. The Amethyst succeeded in negotiating a boom and an- extremely difficult part of the river. At 5.30 a.m. the sloop passed Woosung Fort, whose main batteries fired on her, and was met by H.M.S. Concord. “The Amethyst’s passage was a superb feat of pilotage carried out at full speed on a pitch dark night. The strong current and the flooded river accentuated the all-round difficulties of the Yangtse. “On reaching H.M.S. Concord, the captain of the Amethyst, Lieutenant-Commander J. S. Kearans, sent the following signal to Admiral Brind: ‘Have rejoined the Fleet south of Woosung. No damage or casualties. God save the King.’ Admiral Brind replied: ‘Welcome back to the Fleet. We are all extremely proud of your most gallant and successful escape, and that the endurance and fortitude displayed by everyone have been rewarded with such success. Your bearing in adversity and your bearing in the passage last night will be an epic in the history of the Navy.’ ” The Admiralty in London sent a radio message to Lieutenant-Commander Kearans: “All our admiration goes to you and Amethyst.”The Amethyst will be escorted to Hong Kong if the condition of the ship permits. Otherwise she will be taken to Sasebo, in Japan, for repairs.