BRITISH STEAMER UNDER FIRE

Southland Times, Issue 23375, 6 December 1937, Page 5

BRITISH STEAMER UNDER FIRE

MACHINE-GUNS USED BY JAPANESE

SHIP NOT PERMITTED TO APPROACH ISLAND

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 5, 7 p.m.) SHANGHAI, December 4.

The steamer Siushan (296 tons), owned by the Taikou (Chinese) Navigation Company and registered at Hong Kong as British, was machinegunned from a Japanese position while approaching Tsung Ming Island from Shanghai. One member of the Chinese crew was fatally wounded and another slightly. The vessel was commanded by a Scotsman, Captain N. McMillan, and the passengers included Mr E. B. Boothby, the British Vice-Consul in Shanghai. The Siushan was going to Tsung Ming, which is at present under Japanese control to discover what had occurred to nine French-Canadian missionary nuns who have not been heard from for three months. It is learned that the Japanese had been notified of the purpose of the visit. The Siushan was flying the Red Ensign and had Union Jacks painted conspicuously on her sides. After the machine-gunning the vessel returned to Shanghai. She carried three British naval ratings as an armed guard. There were several hundred Chinese passengers, several of whom were slightly injured. The machine-gun opened fire when the ship was a few hundred yards from the island; the passengers scurried to shelter. JAPANESE PRESS ON TOWARDS NANKING CAPTURE OF KIANG-YIN FORTS CLAIMED (Received December 5, 7 p.m.) TOKYO, December 5. The Japanese claim that they have occupied the Kiang-yin forts and are pressing the advance on Nanking on a front of 100 miles. . An earlier message from Shanghai stated that a counter-attack had checked the rapid Japanese advance on Nanking. Chinese forces cut the Japanese line behind Kwangteh and drove back a Japanese column. General Wong Chao-yuan was reported to be holding the Kiang-yin forts with 20,000 men. Japanese planes without resistance bombed Nanking and Canton. AMERICAN FEAR OF EMBROILMENT WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS URGED (Received December 5, 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, December 4. As a result of the threat of a clash between American marines and Japanese troops in Shanghai the congressional advocates for strict neutrality renewed their demands for withdrawal of the troops from the war zone. The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) said the United States officials in Tokyo and Shanghai had forewarned Japan of the inadvisibility of carrying out the “victory parade.” JAPANESE APOLOGIZE TO AMERICANS SHANGHAI, December 5. Three Japanese officers called on the commander of the American marines (Brigadier Beaumont) and apologized for the Japanese encroachment on the American defence sector. EMBASSY MOVED TO SHANGHAI BRITISH OFFICIALS LEAVE HANKOW (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, December 3. The British Embassy in China is being moved to Shanghai for the time being and the Charge d’Affaires (Mr R. G. Howe) and the Embassy party have left Hankow for Hong Kong. Mr B. E. F. Gage is remaining to maintain con-

tact with the Chinese Foreign Office. The Japanese authorities have given an assurance that every care will be taken to safeguard the train on which the party is travelling. The French Consulate is also travelling by the same train. The first part of the journey will take about two days and the remainder, from Hong Kong to Shanghai, will be made by steamer.