NAVAL ENGAGEMENT

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10339, 10 September 1926, Page 5

NAVAL ENGAGEMENT

CASUALTY LIST. Electric Telegrapli—Press Association LONDON, September 9. Later dispatches received in London show that the naval engagement on the Yangtse is worthy to be numbered among the most daring acts of heroism of the British Navy. Earlier reports suggested that the gunboats Widgeon and Kiawo had been unable to accomplish the mission, and had been forced to retire under heavy fire. The facts are that two merchant ships, illegally commandeered by Yang Sen, were moored inshore, with 300 Chinese soldiers and their British prisoners aboard. The Cockchafer was lying near, but was pi actually out of action, being ce eied at point-blank range by Chinese artillery and machine-guns. The Widgeon and Kiawo : oed to the rescue. Their officers and crew in all numbered not more than 120. Nevertheless they boarded and captured the ships, and hand-to-hand fighting against 300 Chinamen occurred before the British prisoners could be released. The ships’ officers dead include the commanders of the Cockchafer and Dispatch, a lieutenant of the Dispatch, three seamen, and a stoker. The wounded include a lieutenantcommander, a lieutenant, and 13 seamen on the different ships. The Admiralty supplies the following official list of the casualties at Wan Hsein:— Killed: Commander F. C. Darley and Lieutenants A. R. Higgins and C. F. Lidge. Wounded: Lieut.-Comma nder L. S. Apheson Lieutenant O. Fogg-El-liott. Four ratings were killed and thirteen wounded. The Foreign Office states that there is no possibility of sending a Note to Pekin on the subject, in view of the civil war in China, and that the fact that General Yang Sen apparently acted on his own iniative. FOREIGNERS DEMAND ACTION. PEKIN. September 8. The present indications are that Britain must intervene alone. Failure to exact retribution will end British prestige in China. Foreigners everywhere are demanding action. Disunity between the Powers is the cause of the present trouble, which is the gravest since the Boxer Rebellion. The Canton “Red” Army now controls Central China and a population of 100 millions. Wu Pei-fu lias been hiding since his betrayal, fearing further treachery and execution. A “Red” army under Feng Yuhsiang is expected to join tli e Cantonese advance to Pekin, where Cabinet is already contemplating resignation. Thousands of foreign lives and property at Hankow are at the mercy of the Cautonese, who are violently anti-British, and are led by Russian officers. NEG CITATIONS FA 1 LED. All negotiations through the British Minister at Pekin and other channels to secure the release of the vessels failed, as Yang Sen remained obdurate. Finally, the auxiliary vessel Kiaw, manned by a naval detachment, was sent from Ichang to Wan Hsein with orders to use force as a last resource in the release of the steamers. This led to the engagement. I’he British force was assailed with heavy field-gun and rifle fire, to which it replied, but eventually it retired. The captain of one of the detained steamers appeared tq have escaped, but there was ho news of five other mercantile officers held prisoners. WILL BRITAIN DO NOTHING? LONDON, September 9. The “Daily Express” understands that Britain views the seizure of British steamers as China as an act of brigandage, not an act of war.