CHINESE PIRATES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 7

CHINESE PIRATES

CAPTURE OF VESSEL BRITISH CHILDREN ABOARD ABANDONED BY CAPTORS NAVAL QUEST SUCCEEDS [By Telegraph Press Association—Copyright) HONGKONG, Feb. 2. Great anxiety was felt for the safety of the China Navigation Company’s British steamer Tungchow, carrying 70 British schoolchildren from Shanghai to Chefoo, when the ship was more than two days overdue. A general broadcast from Shanghai asking for news of the vessel was resultless, and the warships Sandwich, Suffolk, and Hermes commenced a search, assisted by seaplanes. A brief message: “The Tungchow located, abandoned by pirates” proved little comfort, until a later wireless message reported that all the children were safe. It is believed that the pirates made a mistake in believing that the vessel carried a large quantity of silver bullion which is being shipped at various ports at this time of the year in connection with the Chinese New Year settlements, but the Tungchow carried nothing of value. The prompt response of the naval authorities to join iu the search undoubtedly compelled the pirates to abandon the vessel. They departed iu junks when near Bias Bay. The pirates, disguised as passengers, seized the vessel a short distance from ►Shanghai and compelled the captain ;o proceed south after dismantling the wireless. It is reported that a Russian guard was killed and another wounded and the chief engineer, Mr. Kenneth Macdonald, wounded. Among the British children aboard were the twelvc-ycar-old daughter and the younger son of the captive missionary, Mr. Haynmn, tho New Zealander who is at present in the hands of Communists, having been captured last August at Kweichow, together with the Swiss missionary, Mr. Losshardt. The Tungchow reached Hongkong under naval escort. Scores of parents in dread awaited news of the fate of the vessel and its human freight throughout yesterday, while reports of the activity of British warships and aeroplanes and. the aircraft carrier Hermes failed to offer reassurance. The Huxigcbow is a vessel of 210-1 tons and belongs to the China Navigation Company. The officers are British. She had not replied to wireless messages for some hours, although the weather conditions were reported good. The children had come mostly from Southern and Central China and are of ages ranging from 6 to 16, They had been on their Christmas holidays and were returning to school. In most cases llmv had been home to their parents who are missionaries in various parts of China. Others are children of British merchants or officials. This trip is made annual and is the children’s main holiday of the year, for Ibe weather is at its best. CHILDREN CHEER COMING OF AEROPLANES. "piBATES ESCAPE WITH LOOT SHANGHAI, Feb. 2. The Tjingcbow arrived at Tongkong under escort of jH.M.S. Dainty. The seventy British children had been in the pirates’ hands for three days confined to tho saloon. On Tuesday evening the pirates killed a Russian guard and wounded the engineer, Air. Macdonald. They confiscated firearms, robbed the children, and looted the ship to the value of 250,000 dollars. They repainted the funnel and altered the name to Taomaru. Yesterday afternoon the pirates commandeered a junk and took their loot, but were surprised by the aeroplanes of H.M.S. Hermes, which were cheered by the children, who rushed on to the deck. Hostages covered the pirates’ retreat, but were released and brought back to the ship by the ship s boats. FEARS SET AT REST ADMIRALTY INFORMATION [British Official Wireless. I RUGBY, Feb. 2. The fears entertained for the safety of 70 children of British missionaries, merchants, officials, and traders in China, who were on board the missing steamship Tungchow, returning tu 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 had made no response to wireless messages. An act of piracy was suspected ami the naval authorities sent out ships in search of the vessel. The warships engaged included the cruiser Suffolk am tho aircraft carrier Hermes. Prompt success rewarded the efforts of tin searchers, who found that the. Tung chow had been pirated and later aban doned. This afternoon she was re ported proceeding under her own steam . with a naval escort, to Junk Bay, Hong kong. . i-iti The circumstances in which the pir acy-took place are not yet known n . official quarters. Admiralty inlornm tion is that the Tungchow was piratci ten miles north-west of Shaweishau Is . land at the mouth of the Yangtso or l-immry 29. The pirates landed n Hong Lai Bnyjo "'2 cn 2LT' I’"--

bunk of the Rhine. The general atmosphere among th French representatives appeared to l> one of satisfaction. It is emphasise that no formal pact has been preparebut it is sai<l l.v a French authority . have realised a high measure < agreement. ’ ’ °A Havas agem-v Hairs that, an agree ment is a mred along the lines of convention limiting armaments and r< placing the military clauses of the Vei sailles'Treaty. The parties aim at th completion of the Danubian and Fast ern pacts, Germany’s return to th League, ami a defensive air agreemeii whereto Germany, Belgium an.l Hal will be asked to adhere. This will r< tain its validity if Germany refuses t

kong. The Tunchow had marine guards on board and Sergeant Thorov off was killed. Second-engingeer K Macdonald had gunshot wounds in the chest. All the others are safe. TEACHERS' ACCOUNTS SCREAMING CHILDREN. LATER HUNT FOR SOI:VILNIUS. Received Feb. 3, 6.30 p.m. HONGKONG, Feb. 2. Air. P. J. Duncan, schoolmaster ac companying the children, stateel tha just after leaving the Yangtso then was a sudden commotion, and he sav a Russian sergeant heroically resisting four men who were, obviously pirate:They were pumping bullets into him and he soon collapsed on the deck. Th second engineer, Mr. K. Macdonald was afterwards shot, in the chest, h had a revolver in his hand. Meanwhil Captain Smart and other officers am Russian guards wen 1 overpowered am revolvers pressed into their ribs. Cap tain Smart then ordered the resistanc to cease. Pandemonium prevailed, am the, children, who were screaming, wer taken into the saloon by Mr. Duncan The pirate chief threatened to shoo all aboard ami burn the ship if the cap tain did not prevent the, British Nav; interfering. Captain Smart managee with great fact, to assure him that n harm would result. Miss K. .Mac Nair headmistress ot th school, interviewed, said that alter th first panic the children quickly mad friends with the pirates, and lhei chieftain playfully pelted the boys wit fruit which was raided from the store room. The children were all anxious t obtain souvenirs, and seoured the decl fur cartridges. The chieftain’s pull over was found, nml the children lor it to pieces, each anxious Io secure ; souvenir from it. During meal time some of the pirates sat behind the ladj teachers with revolvers, which the; prodded into their backs. It wits < terrifying experience. On other or, elisions some of the pirates seemed ti go made, brandishing revolvers, ges Ticulating and threatening to butche evervbodv.