UNDER FIRE

Southland Times, Issue 20661, 17 April 1929, Page 5

UNDER FIRE

BRITISH WARSHIP

SHELLED FROM BANKS OF YANGTSE

THREE RATINGS WOUNDED

(United Press Assn. —By Telegraph—Copyright.)

Hong Kong, April 15.

The story of the exploit of the British gunboat Tern, in the upper reaches of the Yangtse is told by naval wireless to-day. It appears that owing to heavy fighting twelve miles above Ichang, the shipping in the upper reaches was unable to move and the Tern proceeded up the river to effect its release, running the gauntlet of heavy fire. Three ratings were wounded. However, the object was achieved, the Tern arriving and returning safely with the vessels. Alarming news from the same source indicates that the Hunan soldiery are out of hand and that they have attacked and looted the Asiatic Petroleum Company’s installation and the Foreign Mission at Changt-se.

A message from Shanghai states that the defeated soldiers in Changtsc, in the Hunan Province, looted the city and made prisoner Mr S. H. Gibb, inspector of the Asiatic Petroleum Company, who was without food and clothing all day, wounding him by spear thrusts in the thigh. A British gunboat was unable to approach the city owing to low water.—Australian Press Association.