ATTACK OK WARSHIP.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20274, 17 August 1937, Page 7

ATTACK OK WARSHIP.

HIT BY A TORPEDO. DARING ATTEMPT BY CHINESE. Unreel Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received Aug. 17, 12.30 p.m ) SHANGHAI, Aug. IG. Mr Andrew Brennan, South African Trade Commissioner, witnessed a daring attempt to blow up the Idumo. which hitherto had borne a charmed life. A fully-lighted, high-powered speedboat flashed down the Shangpoo, hooted when abreast of the Idumo, and sped off down the river. Two hundred yards behind her a speedy torpedo motor boat came surg-' ing with a crew of six and equipped with two torpedoes. It turned round 200 yards from the Idumo and launched a torpedo, which tore through the water and hit something with a terrific thud, but apparently failed to explode. Subsequently two Chinese naval students, members of the motor boat’s crew, were picked up injured on the Bund. They declared that the torpedo struck the Idumo. The evacuation of British women and children has been halted, the Mayor of Shanghai having emphasised that the danger of Chinese air-bomb-ing, the direction of which is not controlled by the commander in Shanghai, has passed. Meanwhile launches and ships will be protectively draped with national colours and fly white flags. Desire to Leave. The Shanghai Club has been besieged throughout the day by those registering for evacuation, men, women and children queuing up ten deep, with gunfire echoing in Hieir The Chinese Foreign Office, learning that the Japanese Embassy staff desire to go home, is providing them TaQ 1 Safe COndUCt t 0 Ja P an » via'Tsing-