Warcraft Machine-gun Civilian Transport Oil Tank, Wing Pierced; Safe Landing Hongkong, Sept. 5.
SPECIAL Eurasia plane, w! vhich left here this morning for Yunnan, was attacked by Ji japanese aircraft and forced down at Liuchow on he Kwangtung-Kwangsi border, according to reports reaching here The oil tanks, it is understood, were punctured, but the pilot effected a satisfactory forced landing. All aboard, including several Germans, are reported safe.
It appears that the seven passengers aboard included Mr. D. D. Li, general manager of the Eurasi la Aviation Corporation, the German technical manager, Herr Holtz, and another German, Herr Schumann. The machine, it is learned, was piloted by a German, Herr Lutz.
There were ten bullet-holes in the wings, while the right petrol-tank was also holed.
After his plane had been hit, it is. learned, the pilot increased his speed, and outdistanced his pursuers. He flew for nearly two hours before making a landing at Liuchow.
The attack, it is understood, was carried out by three Japanese pursuit planes, which appeared suddenly and fired three bursts of machine-gun fire Jat the giant tri-motored Junkers machine, Petrol poured out of the right wing. and there was imminent danger of fire aboard the plane. Skilful handle Ing by the pilot, however, saved what might have been a disaster, and the plane made an excellent landing.
Eurasia planes are plainly marked with German and Chinese characters, Jand the attack has given rise to considerable surprise, as an assurance of immunity for planes of the Eurasia line was only recently received from the Japanese Consul-General here following the recent disastrous C.N.A.C. affair.
'The Eurasia' plane left here at 8.10 Jam, today, and the attack occurred fat 8.10 am.
Others on board the plane in ad-Jdition to those already mentioned, it is learned, included Frau Schumann, Jwho was accompanying her husband; the Chinese mechanic; Messrs. K. L-Chien and C. C. Lu, Chinese passen-_ gers, and Mr. C. T. Lin, Chinese copilot, Later telegrams from Liuchow con-frm that all on board are safe, and that, following repairs, the machine will' probably be enabled to continue her way to Yunnan—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.