SHANGHAIED BY JAPS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 265, 18 March 1911, Page 10

SHANGHAIED BY JAPS.

SON OF TITLED ENGLISHMAN KIDNAPPED. An army shangbaing story presenting umi.iual international complications has developed in the case of .John A. McDonald, who was written down as a deserter from the artillery at Fort Flagler, Wash., in February, 11104, just as the Russian-Japanese war was breaking. Young McDonald has surrendered as a deserter, and been sent to tort Sheridan under arrest.

Hit by bit the United States officers have, worked from liim a remarkable tale of shanghaing, in which the Japanese are are involved.

The young soldier of fortune declares be is the nephew of Sir Hector McDonald, hero of the Boer War.

After a training in an English military school young McDonald, the deserter, went to the United States and enlisted in the hope of winning a commission. He was assigned to the artillery, and soon showed amazing skill with the big guns. His fame spread among men of arms all over the Pacific Coast, and was known to emissaries of Japan in Seattle and San Francisco.

McDonald's army record was without a spot until one day in February, 1004, when lie took his usual leave and went from Fort Flagler to Port Townsend, the nearest town. He was not heard from again until he surrendered himself.

Lieutenant Kinney, after much questioning, got this story from the soldier. "I met some English sailors in Port Townsend, and had a number of drinks with them, though I am not as a rule a drinking man. The next morning I woke up far at sea on a Japanese steamer. J knew I'd he marked down as a deserter before I could get back to Flagler, and there was a chance for immediate fighting with the Japanese in Manchuria. "After the Russians were thoroughly whipped I went to South Africa, where I had various experiences. A chance offered to enter the British Army as an officer if I could present a clear record in the American service. I came to New York a few weeks ago, and asked some questions.

"I heard that if five years had elapsed without apprehension," a deserter was immune. I intended to give myself up and get a discharge. Then I learned that the five-year rule did not apply unless one had spent three consecutive years in the United States. This made me hesitate.

"I came to Chicago with the men who had charge of the horses of the British officers at the horse show. I finally went to Colonel Kcnna, V.C., D.5.0., who knew my uncle, Sir Hector McDonald, and others of my people. I told him my story. He said I must give myself up anyway, no matter what the pnnishment might be, and here I am."

McDonald's case was referred to the adjutant-general at Washington by wire, and the order came back to hold him for investigation. This resulted in his arrest by the military authorities. McDonald refused absolutely to discuss his military experiences in Japan. That he had had such experiences and profited by them was readily proved to the United States officers-who questioned him by his knowledge of recent improvements in artillery science. McDonald intimated that the Japanese were responsible for shanghaing him, and that they wanted him because of his skill as a gunner. After clearing his record he hopes to win j a commission in the British Armv. I