Hankow, Sept. 7.
Making the second to meet with the same fate within as many days, another Eurasia "plane was shot down by Japanese aircraft south-west of Hankow yesterday afternoon, it was learned belatedly today.
Excepting for minor scratches, all the five occupants of the plane are safe, according to a statement made Mr. H. Shou-yung, Cantonese pilot ai the "plane, in an interview after arriving here today.
"It was a miracle that no one was injured," the pilot declared, "since the Japanese pursuit planes machinegunned the aeroplane four times, three times in the air and once after we had crashed into the rice-fields.
"The right wing of the plane bore over 40 machine-gun bullet holes, the left wing eight, the control room five, while the pilot's coat, left on a chair two feet behind the pilot, had six bullet holes.
"The same Eurasia pane took off yesterday morning with passengers anà mails for Sian, but turned back due to failure to contact Sian by wireless on arrival at Wuchang.
All passengers returned to Hankow, and the mails were unloaded.
"When information was received that three Japanese pursuit planes were heading for Hankow yesterday afternoon at 3.15 p.m. I decided to take off, accompanied by the me-elianic, wireless operator and steward.
"A Chinese coolie delivering gasoline also went aboard, making up the five aboard the plane.
"The Japanese planes, after machine-gunning us in the air, machinegunned us again for five minutes after we crashed in the paddy field.
"They then departed.
"The propellers and landing gear were damaged.
"We only succeeded in contacting Hankow at 1130 o'clock this morning, when cars were sent to Paichow to take us back to Hankow."
The Eurasia authorities are sending a party to bring back the machine to Hankow. The plane, it is understood, is not badly damaged.
Paichow, where the plane crashed, is situated 25 miles to the south-west of Wuchang.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.