Seven members of the Woosung Water Police and a score of pi were killed as the result of what iwas probably the most fierce Jgagement which has occurred between the authorities and pirates operating around Woosung this year. The conflict took place on Sunday morning, according to a report appearing in yesterday's Chinese press.
Having received a report shortly after midnight on Saturday to the effect that three large five-mast junks, carrying more than 200 pirates, had appeared at a place known as Hsiao Ha Sha, outside Woosung, the chief of the Woosune Water Police: despatched the patrol boats, Pingyang and Tsinghai, with strong force of police to engage, them.
Apparently the pirates saw the patrol boats first for upon the lat~ ter's approach they opened fire and this was promptly returned by the [water police. The engagement last~ 1 for well over an hour but the desperadoes refused to surrender. They stood their ground acd put up resistance which surprised ever oldest member of the water police present.
Seeing that rif_e was ineffective, the commanders of the patrol boats machine guns into with machine guns for they, too, brought them into use.
The engagement by this.time had reached its pitch but it went on for tome time until the pirates, finding themselves short of ammunition, turned their junks in the direction of Hsiao Miao Hung and fled. Chase was given but the marauders e4- leaped in the shallow water.
During the fight, seven members of the water police were killed and number were wounded but the Pirate losses were far heavier, some 20 being seen to fall into the sea, mortally wounded, whilst many other members of the gang at? Known to have been shot.
Eight of the rifles belonging to the water police were lost in the action and the patrol boats carey many marks of the engagement, With the losses which the pirates suffered, the Woosung Water Police do not think they will dare to sume their activities for the pre-at Toast,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.