Chinese Guns Force Vessel Aground In Yangtze

Chronicle (Levin), 21 April 1949, Page 5

Chinese Guns Force Vessel Aground In Yangtze

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter

, Copyright)

Received "Wednesday, 10.20 p.m. NANKING, April 20. The British sloop Ametliysi caine under lieavy artillery fire on the Yangtze this mornlng, en ronte i'roin Shanghai to Nanking. The British Embassy at Nanking annmuiced tliat it received a signaJ from the Amethyst to the el'feet tliat it was under lieavy fire, was aground and had suffered lieavy casualties. It gave its position as east of Kuan, a small village on the north bank.of the Yangtze. The signal is believed by naval aiithorities in Nanking to have heeu sent under obvious stress. The British destroyera, Consort frum Nanking and Blaek Swan from Shanghai, are raeing to the Amethyst 's rescue. A spokesman at Chinese naval heaihiuarters at Chinkiang said it w;js believed Communist artillery sank the Aniethyst, Reuter's correspondent says the Aniethyst was described as lieing on a huniane and peaeel'ul mission 1 i Nanking wliere she was to reliove the Consort in providing pi-oleetion for Britons in threatened Nanking. Aecording to naval standing orders, the Aniethyst iy believed to have large Union ,J;.eks on botli sides of the vessei.