Daring Escape Out Of Yangtze Makes Naval Epic

Chronicle (Levin), 1 August 1949, Page 5

Daring Escape Out Of Yangtze Makes Naval Epic

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Copyright)

Received Sunday, 7 p.m. HONG KONJGr, July 31. The British sloop Amethyst which has -been held hostage on the Yangtze since April 28, has escaped from the Chinese Oommun- | ists. She reached the month of the Yangtze this morning after a 1 daring flight of 7| hours in pitch darkness and under Communist fire and through flooded waters. She suffered no casualties or j damage. i A Navy statement issued in the name of the Commander-in- . Chief, Far-.East, Sir Patrick Brind, saicl : — "At about 10 p.m. last night the Amethyst slipped her cable in defiance of her gaolers, to eseape dovni the river, She immediately | eame nnder heavy fire from the shore batteries which had been watching her for months and had freqnently threatened^ her destruction. She managed to get past this initial opposition, however, and at 1 a.m., by skilful navigation withont the help of a I pilot, she reached the TCaingyin forts where again she came nnder heavy fire. The Amethyst succeeded in negotiating a boom and an extremelv difficult part'of the river. At 5.30 a.m. the sloop passed the "Woosnng fort whose main batteries fired on her, and was met bv IT.'M.S. Concord. "The Amethyst 's passage was a snperb feat of pilotage carned ont at full speed on a pitch dark night. A strong current and flooded river accentuated the all-round difficulties of the Yangtze.

On reaehing ILM.S. Concord, the captain of the Amethyst, Lieut.-Commander J. S. Ivearans, sent the followiug signal to Sir Patriek Brind: "Ilave rejoined fleet south of 'Woosnng. No damage or casnalties. Cod Save the King." Sir Patrick Brind replied : " Welcome liack to the fleet. We are all extremelv prond of yonr most gallant and snccessfnl escape and that the endnrance and forfitnde displayed by everyone has been rewarded with snch snccess. Yonr bearing in adversitv and yonr bearing in the passage last night vvill be an epic in the history of the Xavv." The Admiralty in London radioed Lient.-Commander Kearans: "All onr admiration goes to yon and the Amethyst." The Amethyst slipped her cable two honrs before midnight and set off down stream behind a river steamer. The moon had set and it was fairly dark. The average speed was 20 knots.