Mr. Dennis W. Murphy, a marine engineer, was the first witness called and said that he was familiar with the engines in the str. Hsin Dah Ming. They previously been in the str. Dah Min, and he had made a survey of them there in 1925. They were in very goad condition, both the engine and boiler, and it was upon his recommendation that they were put into the new steamer. He understood that the engines were new in about 1900, and they were of foreign build, Witness thought they were good for many years more service although it was difficult to give an estimate. about 50 per cent.
ing originally worth "from: '$50,000 to $60,000." Witness had made a second formal survey of the Janunry, 1927, when they had been placed in the new ship Hsin Dah Ming, which had been in a Chinese shipyard at Pootung. In the witness' opinion the str. Hsin Dah Ming was a well built ship.
Lab Tse-tsing, a Chinese employed in the accounts department of the Dah Tung Ca. then gave his evi dence as to the earnings of the str. Hsin Dah Ming. The trips the steamer made during last year had fall been entered in the company's books. Last year she made 65 round trips to Yangchow, and her re rage profit each trip was $750.
was on her fifth trip in the new year, in 1928, that she collided with the Japenese steamer. The Bills of Lauding books were produced in court and the witness said that the firm already been sued in the Shanzhi District Court for some of the cargo Tost, but the case was not finished. west. When three miles away from Chunhsinkang she saw the red and white lights of a steamer, apparent: ly-stopping there, but after pro-faceding half-a-mile the. other steamer moved: it was impossible then to discover whether it was sri: up or down river steamer. As she Jdrew nearer she realized that it was an up river steamer: it was intended to port the helm and go over to starboard, but just before that happened the other steamer altered her course, showing—her green light. The Atsuta Maru Jthereupon, not choosing to cross the bows of the other vessel, which would have been an incorrect _manoeuvre blew twa Ulasts and proceeded on her course, to pass green to green: then, just before the two vessels reached each other, the Chinese ship suddenly showed her red light and attempted to cross the bows of the Atsuta Maru. the latter immediately went astern, ported her helm, in order avoid 2 collision, but she struck the other vessel as is known, Mr. Harris also mentioned that the witnesses called would give what steps had bee taken "after the collision by the Japanese steamer in rescue work.
How it Happened Yohei Miyano, chief oticer of the str, Atsuta Maru No.2, was first called. Witness had held his first mate's and chief officer's certificate for seven years, and was previously fon the str. Swatow Maru, for three months, since which he has been in his present ship. At the time of the collision the witness was on the bridge with the pilot, a Chines who had been engaged at Woos The ess came on duty at o'clock.—The current was not strong and the wind was slight, showed the positions of the two vessels on a chart, ax when he first saw the lights "of the Chinese Witness said that he was already six cables below the beacon light when he discovered that the other vessel was moving up river. When he say her green light, ascertain what course she was taking, he altered his course slightly to the south, at the maine tims giving two Uinsts with his siren. The other vessel did not reply but fatter showing her green fehanged her course after the exe had travelled another nine cables, The witness then ordetet full speed astern, hard aport, an gave three blasts." The other verse! took no steps avoiding the collision and the witness heard no signal After the order for hard astern had been given the collision took place, the Japanese ship striking the up river vessel on the port bow and turning her round. It was struck with the stem. Both ships had some headway and they sprang apart. The force of the blow the Chinese ship round, and the collision the ate, Hsin Dah Ming pointing south-west. The col lision took place about three able: west of the beacon. The of the Japanese steamer came un the bridge when the three blasts were blown and took cha collision took place Is. After the crash, which took place Jat 9.26 p.m. there was some risk of the stem of both boats ing, The Japanese Captain therefore mancuvred the vessel first board and then port, while the Chineze +hip swung round to The Rescue Work This, with the exception of a cory of 2 letter from the Japanese Consul General to the Chinese Commissioner of Foreign Affairs, of which a translation had not yet been nade, concluded the case for the Chinese company.
The Case for the Defence Mr. Reader Ha opening his ease, said that the contention would the that the Yangtze was not a narrow channel within the meaning of the Rules of the Prevention Collisions at Sea, but he would suomit that there was a definite course, the same up and down river. The facts that his clients would prove were that the str. Atsuta Maru No. th of Beaver Island: that she took a line on the baron me! went down the ordinary course: for steamers, rather more to the The Japanese then turned an approached the Chinese, anchoring: about two cables away. The Chi ese ship was almost stationary but in: e8 did not know when exactly she stepped completely, Immediate: ly afar the collision witness had left the bridge and ordered the ships butts to be lowered. As sou anchored they were ready to shove off and all the available belts were flung into the water. Twenty-nine persons were rescued by the Atsuta Maru. The Japanes steamer anchored about 19 minutes after the collision had taken place and she did not leave until 9 o'clock the next_morning, reaching Shanghai on February 20, After the Hsin Dah Ming had capsized wit mess had sent a message by wireless to the Harbour Master in Shanghai. Another steamer was present at the time of tHe colt'sion but witness did net Snow onl ater tat i wen, str, Dah Chi. After arriving in Shanghai, temporary repairs were carried out and after 30 days ship was allowed to sail to Japs where she was repaired. This-was the first trip of the Atsuta Mara No. 2 up river, and at the time there was one Chinese pilot Zpoard, who had been on duty since oon, Captain Tancxo Asada, a Yangtie pilot, said he was formerly: in the Japanese Navy but had been a pilot fon the-Yangize for the Inst 10 years, The Currents Capt. W. P, Piteairn gave evidence of" a. technical. nature, The current, he suid, at that thine of year, at Beaver Istand, would be about two knots and there as good sounding all the way across the river at that point, The witness marked the day and night course of ships up and down river in the neighbourhood of Beaver Island, He was shown the chart_marked by the Chief Officer of the Atsuta Maru and said that in his opinion she was steering a fair course, not burging the western bank of the river which was low and could not be distinguished, in the dark, In sailing as she did in tie centre of the river, rather more to the eastern bank, she accepted a certain degree of responsibility. The Yange tze at that point, by Beaver Island, the witness would not consider narrow channel,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.