CHINESE PIRACY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22487, 4 February 1935, Page 9

CHINESE PIRACY

SEVENTY CHILDREN UNHARMED MARINE SERGEANT KILLED (British Official Wireless.) • (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, February 1. (Received Feb. 3, at 5.5 p.m.)

Fears entertained for the safety of 70 children of British missionaries, merchants, officials and traders in China, who were on board the Tungchow, returning to school at Chefoo after the Christmas holidays, were set at rest this afternoon. Anxiety was caused by the fact that the ship was 36 hours overdue and made no response to wireless messages. An act of piracy was suspected, and the naval authorities sent out ships in search of the vessel.' Admiralty information is to the effect that the Tungchow was pirated 10 miles north-west of Sha-wei-Shan Island, at the mouth of the Yahgtse, on January 29. The pirates landed in Hong Lai Bay, to the east of Hongkong. The vessel had marine guards on board, of whom Sergeant Thorovoff was killed. The second engineer. (Mr K. Macdonald) has gunshot wounds in the chest. All the others are safe.

TUNGCHOW LOOTED VESSEL RETURNS TO HONGKONG PIRATES SHELTER BEHIND ; HOSTAGES r ,? SHANGHAI, February 2. (Received Feb. 3, at 5.5 p.m.) The Tungchow has arrived at Hongkong under the escort of H.M.S. Dainty. Seventy British children had been in pirates' hands for threie days, being confined to the saloon. On Tuesday evening the pirates killed a Russian guard and wounded Mr K. Macdonald. They confiscated all firearms, robbed the children and looted the ship to the extent of 250,000 dollars. They also repainted the funnel and altered the name to the Toa Maru. Yesterday (afternoon the pirates commandeered a junk and took the loot They were surprised by Aircraftcarrier Hermes's aeroplanes, which were cheered by the children, who rushed on to the deck. Hostages covered the pirates' retreat, but they were released and brought back to the ship by the ship's boats.' "•>■■'

A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE YOUTHFUL SOUVENIR HUNTERS, OFFICERS "AND GUARDS OVERPOWERED - * HONGKONG, February 2. (Received Feb. 3, at 9 p.m.) Mr. P. J. Duncan, the schoolmaster accompanying the children, stated that just after leaving the Yangtse there was a sudden commotion, and he saw .the Russian sergeant heroically resisting four men, who were obviously pirates. They were pumping bullets into him, and he soon collapsed on the deck. The second engineer (Mr K. Macdonald) was afterwards shot in the chest. He had a revolver in his hand. Meanwhile Captain Smart and other officers and Russian guards were overpowered and revolvers pressed into their ribs. : Captain Smart then ordered the resistance to cease. Pandemonium prevailed. Children were taken screaming into the saloon by Mr Duncan. The pirate chief threatened to shoot all aboard and burn the ship if the captain did not prevent the British navy interfering. He managed with great tact to assure no harm. - '■.'.,. Miss K. Mac Nair (headmistress of the school) said that after the first panic the children quickly made friends with the pirates. Their chieftain playfully pelted the boys with fruit which had been raided from the storeroom. The children wetp all anxious to obtain souvenirs and scoured the deck for cartridges. The chieftain's pullover was found and the- children tore it to pieces, each anxious to secure a souvenir from it- , •"•■'. * i. During mealtimes the pirates sat behind lady teachers with revolvers and prodded them in the back. It was a terrifying experience. On other occasions some of the pirates seemed to go mad, brandishing revolvers, gesticulating, and threatening to butcher everybody.