Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-24
Sailors Fight Way
to Hill and Save
Survivors.
NUMBER OF KILLED
FEARED TO BE LARGE
Consul and Staff Among
l55 Seeking Refuge
From Attacks.
BY the Associated Press.

Americans and BritishcrS have
been killed by the fighting Cantonese
at Nanking. in the Yangtze Valley.
The number of dead and injured
has not been determined, but an
official American naval report says
it is feared that the number is
large"
The Cantonese, who had taken
over the city from the Shantungese,
at midafternoon suddenly began
shelling the Standard Oil plant, in
the northern part of the city, where
a group of foreigners had been con-
centrated preparatory to removal to
places OF safety.
Cantonese Bombarded.
No sooner had the Chinese opened
fire than the American destroyerS
Noa and Preston and the British
cruiser Emerald went into action
and bombarded the Cantonese posi-
tions with their heaviest guns.
Behind this barrage American and
British landing parties put of from
the ships. The naval men fought their
way to the oil plant and took the be-
sieged refugees out at the cost OF
some lives. The survivors are safe
aboard the warships in the river.
The wires to the city have been cut,
and only scrappy- details are coming
out by wireless. Rear Admiral fiough,
u. S. N, who arrived at Nanking on
the Z. s. S. Isabel after the hgntine'
reports that a number OF Americans,
including women and children, are stlil
in the city.
Shanghai was quiet today after the
recent excesses following the can
tonese OCCUPATION. 1t is learned that
the Dollar Liner President Hayes was
struck BY several bullets during the
flghting. while docked opposite Shang-
hal There were no casualties among
the so passengers, most OF whom We're
Americans.
Cantonese Shell Americans,
SHANGHAI, March "a 0P9.--It is
officially announced that some AIneri-
cans were killed and Some wounded in
the firing at Nanking. No details have
been received.
The Americans We're killed when
Cantonese troops shelled a hill in the
northern part of the city, where the
Standard Oil plant is situated The
number killed and wounded is yet to
be ascertained.
L. s. Warships Reply.
Up to s o'clock tonight only nleager
news had been received from Nanking
and that by radio, the telegraph wires
having been cut. The British de-
stroyer wolsey is rushing to Marking
from Wuhu.
The Cantonese, who are described as
irregulars. began shelling the Standard
OH plant shortly before pm. The
United States destroyers Noa and
Preston and the British cruiser EN-
erald went into action a few moments
later, bombarding the. Cantonese with
their main batteries. while British and
American landing parties were rushed
ashore.
The landing parties fought their
way TO the oil plant and took out the
foreigners at the cost of some lives.
1t is not clear whether these were ci-
villains or naval men or both.
All Survivors Believed Safe.
II Is believed that all the surviving
foreigners are now aboard the war
ships. Approximately 100 American
naval men participated in the land
ing expedition.
One Britisher was killed and the
British consul was wounded.
Late reports told of second Brit
fisher being wounded.
The Americans rescued included As
women. 20 children and 80 men.
A number of American sailors were
among the casualties.
Brief reports from Nanking say the
rescue was a heroic action by Anglo
American naval forces in which lives
of both nationalities were lost All
communication with Nanking con-
tinues limited 10 foreign naval wire
less.
The British subject killed in the
Cantonese Smelling of the foreign con-
centration at Nanking has been iden-
titled as DIR. Satchwell Smith, whose
wife reached Shanghai today, a refu-
gee. 1t is uncertain whether the con-
sui reported wounded was Consul r.
Giles or Vice Consul Tribe.
Believe Rescuers i'm Casualties.
Reports received from Nanking do
not specify whether there were Brit
ish casualties during the landing
operation, but 1t is believed some must
have occurred. since there was a
larger British than American force
Involved.
Many Northerners have remained
in the portion of Marking nearest the
Yangtze River. being unable to cross.
"A Wireless ulSpdLcn from NdnklDE
blames the attack on the hill on "un-
disciplined Cantonese troops" A re-
port reached the warships early this
afternoon that looting had begun in
the city and that foreigners were being
killed. This report was not verified.
Later it was reported that the British
consulate had been looted and the
consul wounded.
American Consul In Group.
The American consul. John X. Da.
Wis. and hisstaff, accompanied by a
Marine guard. which had previously
been landed from the Noa, left the
consulate and took refuge on Socony
fiill, where the foreigners We're as
eembled.
When the warships learned that the
3Iili was being attacked, they opened
fire with their main batteries on the
area surrounding the Hill for the pur-
pose of cleaning out the attackers.
American destroyers are standing
by at Shanghai awaiting possible
hurry calls to Marking.
The British steamer Poyang ar
rived today in Shanghai with the first
refugees leaving Nanking since the
official evacuation began. The Poyang,
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