Remarkable Accuracy of the Japanese Naval Guns Directly from the {urbulent_war zone in North China, Capt. W. Shaw brought the China "Navigation s. Shuntien into Shanghai on the night of August 1 and told a vivid story to 8 Fepreseniative of the "North-China Herata" about the merciless shelling of Taku Village by a Japanese dlestroyer and about the mass flight of the inhabitants, The whole incident really began fon the night of July 28, he said, when few shels were fired at some of the Japanese patrol boats cruising. along near the shore, Who fired the shots in the direction of the little patrol boats was a matter of uncer-fainty, but the reprisal began' with a vengeance at 8 o'clock on the following morning.
While two Japanese destroyers re~ mained just outside the mouth of the river, another Japanese destroyer entered the river and took a position near Pilot's Town about four miles from Taku Village, Sharply at 8 clock that destroyer, believed to belong to the Sixteenth Division, opened fire with her guns.
The rst target for the barrayo was the Chinese Arsenal which was hit. squarely, after the wasting of very few shots, and blown to bits, Capt, Shaw' said that thought the Japanese must have had scouts on the shore in communication. with the ship for the accuracy of the bombardment was remarkable, The Captain and the crow of the s, Shuntien had grandstand seats for the whole affair but were fortunately cout of the direct line of fire, Not fortunate were the s. Fausang and the s. Taksang which, he said, were more or less in the line of five and found shrapnel dropping. on. their decks. The biggest scare was re~ ceived by the second mate of the Taksang, one of the Jardine coast vessels," whose cap was cleanly pierced by a flying bit of shrapnel Throughout the next morning the bombardment continued intermittent ly. When the arsenal "had been. thoroughly demolished the guns the destroyer turned their attention to the Chinese barracks which were Ukewise destroyed within a. short time,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.