Evening star., 1949-08-01
British Give Details
OF S|oop's Escape
From Chinese Reds
By the Assoeiofed Press


ABOARD H. M. S. JAMAICA AT
SEA, Aug. This 8,000-ton
cruiser sped from Hong Kong to-
day to rendezvous with the British
sloop Amethyst. whose bold escape
from Chinese Red captivity in the
Yangtze Rivar Saturday made
naval history. The meeting is ex-
pected tomorrow.
Dramatic details of the Anne
thyst's dash for freedom were re-
counted by Vice Admiral A. c. G.
Madden, second in command OF
the British Navy's Far Eastern
station, aboard this flagship. l.
The Amethyst had been pinned
down by the Communists in the
Yangtze since April 20 when she
was caught in a disastrous duel
with Red shore batteries.
Timing Important in Escape.
Admiral Madden said the es-
cape was "all very well planned
and conducted. The timing also
was a vital factor" ;"
The Amethyst slipped cable Sat-
urday night, at 1912 Hong Kong
time. making as little noise as pos
sible," Admiral Madden said. She
followed astern of a steamer"
The ship was challenged and,
ironically, a Red gunboat also in
the same area was set afire by the
Reds gunflre.
The Amethyst replied to the
shore batteries with one round of
her main armament and large
amount of fire from her bren and
oerlikon guns, the admiral said.
The sloop turned in an amazing
performance, covering 14o miles
through varying currents and
shifting sandbanks and sharp
turns in an effort to get past the
woosung forts before dawn, the
admiral said.
Nine Tons of Fuel Left.
The British sloop had only nine
tons of fuel, left out of a 50-ton
supply when she started her dash.
Admiral Madden said the nine
tons were enough to steam for II
hours at IL knots and that this
indicated the sloop was travelling
at forced draft during the dash.
A British navy spokesman in
Hong Kong said yesterday the
Amethyst would refuel at her an
chorage in the Saddle Islands off
the YangtZe mouth, from a tanker
sent from Japan with three de-
stroyers as an escort.
The British were jubilant over
the new turn in the Amethyst af-
fair" which started last April 20
with a confused battle in the
Yangtze between the Amethyst
and three other British warships
and the Communists ashore.
The Admiralty in London an
nounced King George vi had ra-
diced a royal order to splice the
main BRACE" that is to serve an
extra ration of rum to all hands
on the Amethyst in celebration.
Skipper to be Decorated.
The king also approved an
award of a distinguished service
order medal to 1t. Comdr. John S:
Kerans, who commanded the Anne
thyst on her escape. The medal,
one of the top British decorations.
is to be given him in Hong Kong,
the Admiralty said.
An Admiralty spokesman in
London said the Navy anticipated
no trouble on the voyage to Hong
Kong from Chinese Nationalist
warships reported blockading the
YangtZe mouth. He, said the Sad
die Islands are we'll out of the
river and that at least four Brit
ish destroyers are near enough
to the Amethyst to protect her.
Fourty-four British sailors per-
ished in the April 20 fighting.
Afterward the Communists trained
shore guns on the Amethyst,
lying at anchor off Rose Island,
go miles downstream from Nam
king. and refused to let her leave
until the British paid reparations
for 254 Red troops they said were
killed.
Negotiations were difficult be-
cause the Communists as yet have
no recognized government
Tia pritiSh Enraiun Office and