"Great Britain requests Japan to assume, greater responsibility in defending north China. That does not -mean that Great Britain relies upon Japan for the defence of the Powers' interests in the north but rather that she seeks to arouse the Chinese people to an antagonism against Japan because made a mark as it passed, but fortunately the marksmanship was distinctly bad and neither boats nor men were hit, 'There were Indies on some of the boats, but they were little worried as' the men, thong! some of the laodah tearfully proclaimed, "No cant"
Amongst the boats in the rear was the Sprite and, as stated, a regular barrage was put round her, so her skipper shot her into the Kiangnan Dock anchorage and her. crew went ashore to endeavour to find out who was responsible for the shooting. They saw several soldi-8 lying behind sandbags, del ately firing on all foreign boats, those men being egged on by one on the roof of a building near by, who} shouted and waved to his men. Eventually, bullets began to spatter round the Sprite's observation post, so the yachtsmen hastily' vacated it, It should be mentioned that several of the yachts were flying the British Blue Ensign, so there was the less reason for any mistake about them, Houseboats Fired On Mr, ©, L. Seitz, Vice-Commodore of the Club, following the racing! feet in his motor houseboat, saw the shooting and immediately put about fand reported the affair to Commander Baker, on the U. 8, 8. Black Hawk, who' at once promised to send 'a patrol boat to escort the yachts on the return journey. Whilst this was being negotiated, Col, Bf. Logan's beautiful new' motor houseboat, the Olive, went by and was met by a regular salvo of rifle shots, one going through her awning spreader, but fortunately none of the several foreign ladies and gentlemen on her was hit. She also was flying the British flag.
At 8 pum, the racing fleet started from Wangehiatsu, about nine miles above Shanghai, on the return race, Off the cement works, they met an American naval Jauikch, equipped me-guns, which cruised about the vicinity and it seemed there would not be a repetition of the incident, However, as the last three Byrne boats passed the 1 way station, when the launch w some distance off, two. shots were fired at two boats' which were close together and then another at the and scored a pronounced double sue-cess. She was first away, but had not much-in hand from the Pixie. The latter was handled at first by the skipper of the Spook, nearly as much the worse for wear as his own boat, and he made a bad mess of things in the junk channel, allowing both the Banshee and Hobgoblin to run away from him. John Dewar, an experienced new member, then took the tiller, but too much was asked of him, the Gnome finishing fist, well ahead of the Banshee, then the Hobgoblin and the Pixie.
On the return journey, the Gnome again had a flying start and never {ras approached, winning easily. For 'a while the other three kept well together, but then the Pixie drew only again to be caught by the Banshee off Kiangnan Dock. they had a [great duel, but the Pixie mostly was fast ahead and in the last 60 yd. abe caught a put, which placed her second by a boat's length, Women and Children Fired That the outrages at Nanking agreed by all foreigners to have been deliberate, and others of lesser import. in. central "China, which directly have been attributed to the Communist Cantonese soldiers, are a part of a definite programme has teen proved beyond the shadow of doubt by the unwarranted and malicious shooting on a launch fall of women and children.
The firing took place just after tifin about & mile downstream from where members of the Yacht Club underwent. similar experiences. It twas only after the party. had appeated to the O. C. of an American destroyer who sent an armed motor launch that the shooting ceased. The owner of the launch yesterday spoke in very complimentary terms' of the action of the Americans and the relief party which was sent from the ship,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.