y Japanese Sequel to Japanese "Confiscation" of Boats from Bund Inspector E. J. Lees, of the Shanghai Municipal Police, was threatened and subsequently detained by the Japanese Gendarmerie for over one hour yesterday after he went to investigate injuries sustained by a Chinese coolie who was lying on one of the many Chinese wooden boats tied up along No. 5 Pontoon. The Chinese had been beaten across the head with.a wooden stick by one of the Gendarmes a few minutes previously when he opposed the gendarmes" attempts to tow two Chinese-owned wooden boats away.
The incident occurred at about 11.30 a.m. When Inspector Lees saw the injured man who was dressed.in white Chinese clothes, he rushed to the boat to examine the extent of ihe injuries. Meanwhile however, the Gendarmes had tied the two boats to a tug, preparatory to towing them away. When the Inspector realized what was going on, he attempted to jump on to the, Pontoon but was prevented from doing so by one of the Gendarmes who threatened to hit him over the head with the same stick with which.. the. Chinese had been critically injured. The convoy then left for the Floating Restaurant moored near the Public Gardens opposite Peking Road and which is at present being used by the Gendarmerie after having been confiscated.
Mr. A. H. Samson, Assistant-Commissioner of Police, who had witnessed the incident from the Bund, board: ed the pontoon shortly afterwards and came on to the Bund, together with Inspector Lees, at 1240 p.m. after having converged with the Gendarmerie officials at some length.
The. boats it was learned, were "confiscated": by the Japanese snd have not Been returned to their Chinese owners whilst the fate of the injured Chinese, could not be ascertained.
Questioned at yesterday's press conference, the Naval spokesman denied any knowledge of the occurrence.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.