CHINESE PIRATES

Evening Star, Issue 21753, 22 June 1934, Page 9

CHINESE PIRATES

BRITISH CAPTIVES SET FREE PICKED UP BY DESTROYER Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SHANGHAI, Juno 20. All the British captives were released. They were picked up from a sampan by the destroyer Whitshed and arc now safely at Chefoo. Messrs Nicholl and Watson were released early this morning, while Messrs Luce and Field (naval lieutenants) and Brand (second officer of the Shunticn) wore found later, having been set free by their captors. All arc in good health and little tho worse for their trying experiences. Mr Yayamoto and the Chinese captives arc still in the hands of the pirates, who declared that they are friendly towards the British but bitterly opposed to the Chinese Government. RANSOM DEMANDED FOR REMAINDER TROOPS CLOSING ROUND LAIR. SHANGHAI, June 21. One Chinese was released for the purpose of conveying the ransom demands to the relatives of nineteen other prisoners. It is believed that the pirates’ spirit has been broken by the manner in which the Chinese troops are closing in around them and the relentless pursuit by British aeroplanes, which spotted and followed tho party until dusk yesterday. The pirates are extremely angry with the Chinese authorities for sending troops, which are now encircling the pirates’ lair and will inevitably lead to their arrest or extermination. The fate of the Japanese captive is unknown. ADMIRALTY OPERATIONS NAVAL AIRCRAFT EMPLOYED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 21. (Received June 22, at 1 p.m.) Further information from Admiral Dreyer (Commander-in-chief on tho China station) regarding the rescue of five Englishmen and- one Chinese official captured by pirates from the Shuntien, shows that on the morning of June 20 naval aircraft from the Eagle, with the concurrence of the Chinese authorities, carried out a search in the neighbourhood of the position from which the captives had been taken inland. During this search fire was opened on one of the aircraft from a group of junks in a creek about half a mile from the sea. On further investigation from the air a sampan bearing a white flag was observed in a position five miles to the eastward of the group of junks. This sampan proved to contain Mr Nicholls and a Chinese official (Sun Tun-ling), who had been sent with letters for the purpose of opening negotiations with the British and Chinese authorities at Tsinanfu. These two captives were rescued by float planes, which landed near the sampan and took them to the Eagle. Meanwhile heavy fire had been opened from the ground abreast of the group of junks on other aircraft sent to investigate, in spite of the fact that no offensive action had been taken by them. One of the aircraft was hit through the main plane, and it was necessary to return the fire. A pirate junk then started to put to sea, and anchored in shoal water, which made it impossible for the destroyers to approach her. Aircraft were therefore sent to drop a warning bomb near this junk with messages in Chinese threatening the use of force unless the prisoners were surrendered. These measures were successful, and the remaining four European prisoners were released in a sampan and embarked in H.M.S. Whitshed. The rescued officers report that Mr Yamamoto was sent in a junk to Tientsin by pirates to arrange terms. No report has yet been received of bis rescue. JAPANESE DEMANDS SHANGHAI, June 21. (Received June 22, at 10.15 a.m.) Chincso warships are co-operating with tho troops that are encircling the pirates. In contrast to the British attitude, tho Japanese officials at Nanking presented demands to the Chinese Government for speedy and energetic measures to effect the release of the captive (Mr Yamamoto). Tho released Chinese proved to be Sun Tun-ling (a former Minister of tho Interior) and Wu Pei-fu (of the local Government of Peking). JAPANESE PRISONER RELEASED SHANGHAI, June 21. (Received June 22, at 10.15 a.m.) Mr Yamamoto, the solitary Japanese captive in tho Shuntien piracy, has been released, according to a Peking message, having been placed on a junk cn route to Tientsin for the purpose of carrying ransom demands to the relatives of the Chinese captives who remain in tho hands of the pirates. The Eagle, under instructions from Admiral Dreyer, is remaining in tho vicinity of the mouth of the Yellow River for the purpose of assisting in final efforts to capture the" pirates and effect the release of the Chinese captives.