At 2.25 pin. two shells burst m the water about twenty yards off the Cricket's port side, and these were followed by regular two gun salvoes at short intervals, the shells falling all around the assembled ships and hulls. The merchant ships forming part of the concentration immediately proceeded up river, while the Scarab and the Cricket got up steam, Afte: some ten or eleven salvoes had been fired, and all the merchant ships were under way, the firing ceased.
At 3.05 pin. the Cricket went alongside the hulk, took in tow one of the lighters, and lay off the left bank. The Scarab also proceeded alongside the hulk, and took one of the vessels in tow. While the Cricket was at anchor gf the left batik, the firing began again, and shells began to fall around the merchant ships, which were still proceeding up river, and were by this time a mile above the Cricket, Two-gun salvoes were again being fired. The firing only ceased when the ships were out of on warships.
While the British version of the incident differs from the Japanese, the British Government is said to appreciate the measures to be taken by the Japanese Government regarding the punishment of the officers responsible, and is glad to note that full guarantees are offered against the possibility of future attacks.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.