JAP 'PLANES RAID BRITISH SHIPPING

Northern Advocate, 13 December 1937, Page 5

JAP 'PLANES RAID BRITISH SHIPPING

United Press Association.—By Flectrlt Telearavh. —Covyright .1 (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 12. Japanese planes attacked a concentration of British shipping two miles up the Yangtse from Nanking, including the Scarab and the Cricket, which returned the fire. There wei’e no casualties. The Sul Wo (2672 tons), owned by the Indo-China Steam. Navigation Company, suffered a direct hit during the Japanese attack on British shipping at Wuhu. The Butterfield 'and Swires vessel, Tsingtah, carrying Mr Prideaux Brune, British Consul at Nanking, and Lieutenant - Colonel Lovat - Fraser, naval attache, was also fired on by Japanese, but there are no details of the Incident. When Mr Brune, Colonel Lovat-Fraser. and Flag-Captain G. O'Donnell, the last-named slightly hurt, went ashore, they protested to Colonel Hashimoto against firing on British gunboats. A Mistake. He replied that he had orders to fire on every ship on the river, but admitted that the attack on British craft was a mistake. A message from Hangkow s'ays the Japanese field battery fired on H.M.S. Ladybird at Wuhu. One bluejacket was killed. Flag-Captain, O’Donn'ell and a bluejacket were injured. There were four direct hits on the Ladybird, which was anchored at the Asiatic Petroleum Company’s (installation, but got under way when the Japanese opened fire. She was fired tat until out of range. The Bee was just; arriving at Wuhu from further up the river when she was attacked, but was not hit.