ATTACK ON BRITISH GUNBOATS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 69, 14 December 1937, Page 5

ATTACK ON BRITISH GUNBOATS

(British Official Wireless.)

Japanese Field Guns Fire at Short Range VIGOROUS PROTEST

(Eeceived 14, 12.30 p.m.) EUGBY, Dec. 13. Further details in connection with the Japanese firing on the British gunboat Ladybird, which was at anchor off Wuhu, show that the Ladybird was just getting under way to take officers to protest against the previous bombardment by Japanese with machine-guns and artillery of the tug Tsintah, which was carrying Mr Prideaux Brune, British Consul of Nanking, LieutenantColonel Lovat-Fraser, military attache, and Flag-Captain G. O'Donnell, when a Japanese field-gun battery opened fire on her. When the gunboat Bee arrived on the scene, fire was also opened on her. One shell fired by the battery at 400 yards range pas.ed over the Bee, but further firing was stopped by Captain O'Donnell and Lieutenant - Colonel Lovat-Fraser making a vigorous protest to the Japanese commanders. During the afternoon, British vessels lying off Hsiapanshen, 20 miles up the river from Nanking, in the concentration areas, which were supposed to be immune from hostilities, were subjecteci to dive bombing. A report from Shanghai says that the Japanese commander, Admiral Hasegawa, visited H.M.S. Folkstone there and expressed to the senior British naval officer his deepest regrets for the attack on the British gunboats, promising that his Government would consider reparations. The joritish and American Ambassadors in Tokio called on the Japanese Foreign Minister, it is understood with regard to the Yangtse incidents. „ The incidents will be tlie subject of a statement in the House of Commons this afternoon, when a question will be asked regarding them.