PIRATES ELUDE TWO JAPANESE WARSHIPS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 279, 15 February 1928, Page 9

PIRATES ELUDE TWO JAPANESE WARSHIPS

OFFICERS AS HOSTAGES ABANDONED SHIP TAKEN By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Reed. 12.15 p.m. SHANGHAI, Tues. Despite the strict vigilance of two Japanese warships over the pirate ship |<aitsu Maru, which attacked the steamer Hirado Maru, killing two Japanese sailors, the pirates escaped to the shore and vanished into the hills, taking as hostages the first, second and third officers, as well as the chief engineer. • % Handing parties are preparing to search for them. Meanwhile the pirate ship is being towed to Tsing Tao. The Japanese steamer Hirado Maru, answered signals and awaited the approach of a vessel which subsequently proved to be a pirate ship, which was identified as the Kaitsu Maru, of 1,500 tons, recently seized from the Japanese Shipping Company. The crew of the Kaitsu Maru poured a fusilade of rifle shots into the Hirado Maru, killing two sailors. The Hirado Maru, a ship of 1,440 tons, then went full steam for Tsingtau, 300 miles north of Shanghai, and outdistanced the pirate ship. A Japanese destroyer later discovered the pirate, which took refuge in a bay, where the depth of the water prevented the destroyer from approaching. The ships exchanged shots. The pirates refused to surrender, but threatened to kill six Japanese sailors whom they held as hostages in the event of. an attempt to send a boarding party from the destroyer.—A. and N.Z