Pearl River Incident Told in Navy Ministry Report Tokyo, Nov. 19. An unusual account of bravery under fire in a daring rescue of the crew of a Japanese hydroplane, forced down on the Pearl River in iront of enemy posts, was received yesterday by the Ministry of Navy.
"The belated report stated that on Nov. 7 while three hydroplanes were returning from bombing a Chinese torpedo factory at Whampoa, one became separated. While searching for his companions, the pilot of the lost plane sighted a Chinese gunboat and attacked it with machine-gun fire. The plane was hit and its oil tank damaged and engine stopped. It was forced to land on: the river under an enemy barrage.
Replying with machine-gun fre, the report said, Sub-It. Sei Funada, commanding, and Fit, W. O. Hirai plunged into the water to avoid the enemy fire when their ammunition ran out.
Another plane of the Japanese unit, carrying Fit. C. W, O. Torakichi Nakao and W. O. Hidekichi Miyako, now chanced over the scene and at once directed the third plane to return to the base and report whi itself landed at the side of the disabled machine, after reporting the incident by wireless.
Concentrated enemy fire from the river bank prevented rescue of the two men in the water. The rescue plane therefore, went aleít and boldly attacked the Chinese gunners from the air. Then, taking advantage of the Chinese troops' confusion, the rescue craft alighted alongside the disabled machine.
The two fliers imining near their plane were then picked up, the rescue ship made a difficult take-off and slowly flew back to its base, said the report One of the rescued men rode on the fuselage. clinging to the upper wing, while the other crouched in the wireless compartment.—Domei
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.