DESTROYER'S DUEL WITH SHORE GUNS

Chronicle (Levin), 21 April 1949, Page 5

DESTROYER'S DUEL WITH SHORE GUNS

Received Thursday> 11 a.m. NANKING, April 20. The British destroyer Consort reached the Yangtze fort of Kiangyin late today after a 50-mile duel with Communist shore guns along the river. The Consort returned the fire when Communist artillery shelled the destroyer, inflicting some casualties. A naval statement issued in Shanghai tonight said: "The Consort, coming from Nanking to her assistanee, reached the spot where the Amethyst is aground on the north side of Rose Island, but owing to artillery fire was unable to stop and render assistanee. She has now arrived at Kiangyin with a number of wounded aboard. The frigate- Black Swan has joined the Consort at Kiangyin and will be able to render assistanee. The cruiser London is expeeted to reach Kiangyin late tonight." The statement explained that the Amethyst was on a peaceful mission carrying stores to His Majesty's Embassy in Nanking when she was fired upon. Reuter says that the latest reports from Chinkiang claimed that 20 members of the crew of the Amethyst are dead and at least 20 others are seriously wounded.. The point where the Ame-

^wwwwwwvwwvvwwvwwwv^nn* thyst was run aground is reported to be bristling with the artillery of several Red armies poised for the expeeted offensive across the Yangtse, The Union Jack was shot offi the vessei during the shellipg, aird it was then that she hoisted the white flag. A Hong Kong message re* ports that the cruiser Belfast left harbour this evening, pr% sumably for Shanghai.