The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-08-30

we have just been bombed by Q Chinese plane," the ship flashed to the United States navy head- quarters,
 II am not sure where we have been hit
 II am not sure how many have been injured.
 Here they come asain-need naval assistance"
 Admiral Yarnell In Action
 Admiral Harry E, Yarnell, com mander in chief of the United States navy in these waters, went Into action instantly,
 Within Q few minutes the 1.-the destroyers Parrot tand Edsall, sister shipse, were making ready to sail to the liners aid,
 Admiral Yarnell ordered navy surgeons aboard them,
 Then the liners master flashed word that he was able to proceed under his own power tonight, if necessary, but that he was await- Ing instructions from the Dollar line at San Francisco,
 Admiral Yarnell, assuming emer- geney command of oil American shipping, ordered the President Hoover to proceed at once, and ean- eeled the order for the deStroyers to go to her aid,
 The liner flashed that 1t had left for Kobe, Japan, under the ad- mirars orders, Admiral Yarnell cancelled the recall orders to the two destroyers and they left at full steam to protect the liner, He flashed Q message to the liner Presi- dent Mckinley enroute, not to halt at Shanghai
 Keep All Ships Out
 Admiral Yarnell intimated that he would order oil American meF- chant ships not to try to enter "hos- tile" waters of the Woosung and YangtSe lightships,
 The plane that attacked the President Hoover was 0 Chinese one, of several seeking to bomb Japanese warships, it seemed defi- nitely established after 0 prelim- mary investigation.
 This was the President Hoover's second dramatic arrival in local wa ters since the beginning of the bat- tie for Shanghai.
 It was at Manila when the United States government became convinced of the urgent danger to American women and children here. By are rangement with tho Dollar line, the liner took aboard c company of marines, the first American Fein- foroements, and made full steam for Shanghai.
 It disembarked It's marines-its only passengers-took aboard women and children refugees and turned back for Manila, where it resumed It's normal commercial function,
 Sped from Land to Attack
 It was 6 miles from Shanghai, nearing the YangtEe light ship, late today when the airplane sped out from land and attacked 1t.
 one bomb hit the deck on tho port side. A second hit dummy smoke stack. A third struck amidships.
 The President Hoovers master counted 2b shrapnel holes in the ship above the water line.
 Tho liners message that 1t had been ordered to proceed to Japan was interpreted to mean that 1t would drop It's passengers by tender ct the mouth of tho river, take aboard refugees and make for San Francisco by way of Japan.
 It is tho first United 6tates.bound American liner to leave since the outbreak of the Shanghai battle. Previous refugees have been taken to Manila.
 Doubt About Bombs
 There was some doubt still as to the identity of the attacking plane. The President Hoover's radio crew reported that 1t was Chinese with. out qualification. But receivers ct navy and 4th marine headquarters here said that the messages from the liner were jerky and excited-as was natural--and they thought 1t best to await investigation before blaming one side of the other.
 Two hours before the dramatic bombing messages, the liner had radloed ahead that Norman c. Har- ris, b3, Rochester, N. Y, c resident of China since 1906, was missing.
 Harris, c director of the Yee Tsoong Tobacco company. went to Manila with the liner on it's last cruise, accompanying his wife and daughter, Mrs. Julian Briggs, who went as refugees. He sailed back with 1t. Friends noticed his absence this afternoon, the liner reported.
 Cross Fire Dangerous
 Admiral Yarneil was the more gravely concerned for safety of Americans because of the cross-fire between Japanese and Chinese through which ie0 Americans, most of them women and children, went Saturday oli their way to board the