Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27
AMERICANS SAVED
BY GUNS OF SHIPS
Threat of Drastic Action Per-
mitted Evacuation of
Those in Marking.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK, March a6.-The FOL
lowing connected narrative OF events
at Marking was written by Ashmeao
Bartlett, correspondent of the Lon
don Daily Telegraph, and picked w
bv the New York World News Service
wireless station as it, was broadcas ST
today by the British Official wireless
--latest information from Marking
confirms that, as a result OF threats
of drastic action made by the British
and American admirals to the Can
tonese commander, foreigners, VINO
were marooned, have been rescued
One hundred and fifty Americans
were reported to be still unaccounted
for. but official advices state ina,
these are all now safe except one
who was killed. Another one was
wounded.
BY a prearranged pan. all for
eigners should have concentrated III
the interna tional export building out
side the walls. where they would nave
been removed to the ship without
much difficulty. but in the genelai
confusion which followed the entry
of the Cantonese, only a portion sue
ceeded in reaching the bOllding'
Troops Begin LOOtins.
1.-THE remainder made for the sec
ond hill inside the walls OF the town
the rising groufid being visible TO
warshfps in the Yangtse River. The
moment of departure of northern
troops saw the Cantonese gunner
Nng concealed in the town, come
forth to loot and attack foreigners.
is evident that Bertram Giles: Brit-
fsh consul general. was WOUNDED IA
the first rush on the consulate. Which
was protected by six marines from
H. M. s. Emerald.
Shortly after the attack by the
eunmen. the regular Cantonese army
entered the city and got completely
out of hand, running wild and loot
ing all shops and the British ana
American consulates. AT 4 o'clock
THURSDAY afternoon the situation be-
came very grave, as observers from
the warships saw huge mop'
mingled with regular Cantonese
soldiers, advancing against the refu-
gees on Socony Hill.
Hasty consultation between the
captains of the Emerald and OF Ameri-
can destroyers led to the instant de-
cision to protect the refugees by
heavy barrage Of shrapnel. This pollcy
alone saved the lives of nearly 100
men and some women, for the shrap-
mel cut, off the Cantonese. who had
never met shell fire before.
Marines Cover Flight.
Taking advantage of the respite.
the refugees made their way through
the tortuous winding streets out OF
gate to where they found British and
American Marines just landed, who
covered their retirement to the ships
without single casualty, as far as
we know of. From this moment all
communica ton was cut off from the
British and japanese consulates.
Various reports and rumors
stated that the consul in the British
place was dead together with Capt.
Spear and the military escort, and
that the japanese consul also had
been murdered. These have turned
out to be incorrect. but DIR. John T..
Williams, vice president of Marking
University, was murdered in cold
blood.
"On Thursday afternoon. after the
ships had put up their barrage, Gen.
Pal Tsung -Hsi, Nationalist com
nander, sent an emissary to the
Emerald demanding immediate ces-
sation Of the bOmbardment. Senior
officers OF the British and American
vessels replied that he must himself
come and discuss the situation not
later than 10 O'Clock. He failed to
turn up.
Naval commanders were then in
q difficult position, for, although the
majority Of foreigners were safe, 10
British and about 100 Americans, re-
ported to be missionaries, remained
somewhere in the city and their fate
was unknown.
Ships Officers Handicapped.
Moreover. there was the japanese
consul, whose fate was uncertain, 1t
was impossible to land sufficient
forces from the ships TO storm the
walled city and il was likewise i'm
possible to lombard military points in
the darkness.
Therefore. after Gen. Pal failed To
show up at 10 o'clock, he was sent an
ultinlatum ordering him to deliver ali
remaining foreigners by 10 O'Clock
Friday morning, otherwise the com
manders threatened to take the most
drastic measures. During the whole
were freely sniped by Cantonese
troops from both sides of the river.
one biuejacket being killed ON the
Emerald.
I'm the morning no reply to the ulii
Hatum had been received and TO for.
eigners were handed over.
Admiral Hough Of the United
States arrived In dispatch boat to
take command OF the American
forces. Urgent consultations were
held between him and the British
senior naval officer. and the American
admiral was so impressed with the
gravity of the situation that he csbIed
10 the American comman der in tItief
At Shanghai that he considered il con.
crete action We're not taken firmly
and Immediately, lives OF remaining
American and British subjects wo I'D
be lost.
BembardmeDt Approved.
He recommended the sheiiing Of
military points. Such action was ap-
proved jointly by the British AMI
American commanders in chief at
Shanghai, and final warming to this eff.
feet was sent to the Cantonese com.
u1anders.
''At s O'Clock Friday evening il was
announced that Consul Giles. slightly
wounded; Capt. Spear and the whole
consular party, including the Marines
also wounded. had been handed over
by the Cantonese and that dra site ac-
ton had been postponed"