SPOTTED BY AIRCRAFT

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 146, 22 June 1934, Page 9

SPOTTED BY AIRCRAFT

HEAVY FIRE RETURNED

WARNING BOMB DROPPED

CAPTIVES SURRENDERED

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received June 22, 11 a.m.)

RUGBY, June 21. Further information from Admiral Dreyer, Commander-in-Chief of the China Station, regarding the rescue of five • Englishmen and one Chinese official captured by pirates from the steamer Shuntien, shows that on the morning of June 20 naval aircraft from H.M.S. Eagle, with the concurrence of the Chinese authorities, carried out a search in the neighbourhood of the position from Which the captives had been taken inland.

During this search fire was opened on onfe of the aircraft from a group of junks in a creek about half a mile from, the sea. On further investigation from, the air a sampan bearing a white flag was observed in a position five miles to the eastward of the group of junks. This sampan proved to contain Mr. Nicholls and a Chinese official, who had been sent with letters for the purpose of opening negotiations with the British and Chinese authorities at Tsinanu. These two captives were rescued by float aeroplanes, which landed <near the sampan and took them to H.M.S. Eagle,; Meanwhile, a heavy fire had been opened >fronr the ground' abreast of the group: of junks on other aircraft sent .fa investigate, in spite of the fact that no offensive action had, been taken by them. One of the aircraft was hit through, the main plane, and it was necessary to return tfie fire. A.pirate junk then started to put to sea, arid anchored in shoal water, which made it impossible for destroyers to approach her.. Aircraft/were therefore sent to drop a warning bomb near'this' junk, withj messages in Chinese, threatening the use of force unless the prisoners were surrendered. These messages ivere successful, and the remaining' four European prisoners were released in a. sampan, and embarked in H.M.S. Whitshed. . '

The rescued officers report that Mr. Yamairioto, the Japanese, was sent in a junk to. Tientsin by the pirates to arrange terms. No report has yet been received of his rescue.