BRITISH LINER BOARDED

Southland Times, Issue 23826, 25 May 1939, Page 5

BRITISH LINER BOARDED

Action By Japanese Destroyer

INTERVENTION BY H.M.S. DUCHESS

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received May 24, 11.20 p.m.) HONG KONG, May 24.

A Japanese destroyer held up without reason the P. and O. Company’s liner Ranpura (16,600 tons) 50 miles from Hong Kong. The Ranpura was released after 30 minutes upon the intervention of the British destroyer Duchess.

The Ranpura’s passengers say that the Japanese destroyer fired twice across the liner’s bows from half a mile away and then signalled: “Heave to!” The liner proceeded at full speed in an attempt to gain British waters a mile away. The destroyer gave chase, and the liner halted.

Three Japanese officers boarded the Ranpura and examined her papers in spite of the captain’s protest. The liner’s commodore sent a radio appeal for help. H.M.S. Duchess was exercising in the vicinity. The liner’s passengers included RearAdmiral H. P. W. G. Murray, who was going to Hong Kong to take command of the Sixth Cruiser Squadron, He said that a guard of marines went aboard the Ranpura, with officers from a Japanese cruiser which was flying an admiral’s flag.

The Japanese authorities at Shanghai have issued an ultimatum to foreign shipping that “because of military necessities” any vessel off the China coast is liable to seizure unless it is carrying a Japanese naval permit, says the Hong Kong correspondent of The Daily Herald. This has amazed shipping circles at Hong Kong, which refuse to believe that Japan dares to carry out such a blockade.