Killed by Japanese Plane

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 27, 26 October 1937, Page 5

Killed by Japanese Plane

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BRITISH. SENTRY . Outpost and Riding Party "Strafed" SOLDIERS RETURN FIRE

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(Received 26, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 25. Rifleman G. McGowan, of the First Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles, was macbine-gunned and killed by a Japanese aeroplane over the Shanghai resident.ial western district. A companion had a remarkable escape, a bullet passing through a matclibox in bis trousers pocket. Tbe home of Rifleman McGowan was in Donegai. Rifleman McGowan was on sentry duty at the barricades in Keswick road when a Japanese plane macbine-gunned tlie position. He was shot in tbe head and died in hospital. Another bullet pierced the uniform of Rifleman Jack Lindsay, of Belfast, but a cigarette case deflected it. The men returned the fire, and the plane flew off after machine-gunning a riding party of a score of Englisb, American and Chinese. The plane also machine-gunned an outpost of Royal Ulsters in Great Western road. There were no casualties. A British resident says that the machine dived five times, shooting continuously. Admiral Hasegawa, tlie Japanese naval commander, expressed profoimd regrt to Sir Charles Little, Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in China, saying that the airmen believed they were attacking a strong Chinese post. Strong Protest Llkely. A strong British protest over the incident is likely. How the Japanese plane scattered a riding party and residents who were walking is vividly told by a British eyewitness. "My wit'e and I were on Keswick road when the Japanese plane dived," he said. "Some British soldiers and ourselves ran to a rice field and lay fiat on our faces. A moment later we heard machine-gunning, and expected every momenu to be our last. "There were about 20 men and women riding. Some dismounted, and others were tbrowu off. All rgn for cover. Meanwhile the plane dived again, with its machine-guns blazing. Wlien it had. swooped five times we ran to our car and drove off." Mr. W. Palmers, of Manchester, said he was walking with a German girl and ran witli her and two British couples and their children to a nearby dairy, which was flying the Union Jack. When the plane swooped a fourth time members of tlie Royal Ulster Rifles opened fire with a Lewis gun. Mr. Nicholson, United States Treasury agent, said: "The Japanese plane 'strafed' everything along the road." Tjvo horses which were killed belonged to the Chinese Minister of Finance, Dr. Soong. The plane. which swooped down to 100 feet, ia believed to have been from a squadron wliick raided tbe Jessfield railway bridge. Bombs fell in the nearby recreation ground, and many of the wounded were machine-gunned while seeking to enter the International Settlement. The British state tliat as the Shang-hai-Cliengcliow railways runs alongside the spot the airman had the clearest indication that he was machine-gunning a British defence sector. "Dived Directly At Lls." Corporal Henry Osborne, of London, said : — "The plane dived directly at us an^ the bullets wliipped across the road. Rifleman McGowan, who was taking cover, was hit. I saw he was dying. Rifleman Lindsay was hit by the same burst. I ordered Rifleman O'Leary to fire at tho plane. He fired 80 rounds from a Lewis gun and hit the machine. I saw jt quiver, but it straightened up and accelerated. "Perhaps I did wrong to order the fire, but 1 could not bear to see my men fired on without replying. I could not let the Japanese get away with it." . Sir Charles Little, after a conference with the Consul-General, decided. to supply headquarters and pcsts with anti-aircraft guns. ' lt is reported that Lieutenant-Com-mander M. L. Burnett, of the cruiser Cumberland, was among the riders who was machine-gunned. His horse was killed under him, but he himself was not burt. 'Two Russians were among the riding party. They galloped headlong for a quarter of a mile to escape the plane, wliich followed them. Both were thrown, and the horse of oue was hit.