Evening star., 1954-09-20

November 26: A vessel off
Swatow fired on a United States
Navy plane.
1852
January: The Aisiatic Petro-
leum Co.'S oil lighter BPM 88.
sailing under the British flag,
was intercepted and detained ~
by the Chinese Communists. on
the fringe of Hong Kong ter
ritorial waters.
September Is: On the regular
Hong Kong Macao route the
British flagship s. S. TAX Shing
was fired on and detained by an
armed Chinese Communist naval
vessel. The TAX Shing was taken
to Lafsami Island where two pas
sengers were removed.
September IS: In answer to
the distress call. the H. M. S.
Mounts Bay and consort arrived
to give escort to the TAX Shing
to Hong Kong. While still in
British territorial water. four
miles from Lafsami, Chinese
Communist shore batteries fired
on the Mounts Bay. The Mounts
Bay returned fire and silenced
the batteries.
October Is: While pursuing a
suspected smuggling junk, a
Hong Kong revenue launch in
the vicinity of Ling Ting Island
was fired on by a Chinese Com
munist shore battery.
November 2: A Chinese Com
munist armed junk took into
custody two British seamen in
whale boat sailing around Hong
Kong Island-about half way
between Lamma Island and the
Ling Ting Islands. The men
were taken to Canton, ques-
toned intensively, and were re-
turned to Hong Kong on March
10, 1858, having been detained
for more than four months.
1853
January Is: Chinese Com
munist A/A fire off Swatow shot
down United States Navy Nep-
tune plane. United States Coast
Guard Mariner crashed taking
off after rescue. United States
destroyer fired on by shore bat
teries-later chased by hostile
craft. Total casualties were IL
missing.
March FL: Chinese Communist
gunboat seized United States
yacht Kert about 5 miles west of
Lantau Island. 6-7 miles north of
Lafsami. The following Ameri-
cans were taken into. custody and
not released until September,
1854: Richard Applegate, Ben
jamin Krasner and Donald
Dixon. Three Chinese. who were
with the Americans, have not
been released.
April 30: A Chinese Com
munist gunboat attacked a Brit
ish-registered motor junk in in
ternational waters near Soko
Island and Sang Lau Point, off
the southwest tip of Lantau
Island. After taking refuge in
British waters. a Chinese Com
munist gunboat and four Com
munists in naval uniform pursued
the junk and after some shooting
: took it. The Hong Kong marine
department later rescued the
crew.
May Is: AS it was leaving
Annoy, the British S. S. Nigelock
received small arms fire from
Communicated Hu Hsu Island.
June 80: At Scrag Point Chi
nese Communist shore batteries
fired on the S. S. Hydralock of
British registry.
September 8: A Chinese Com
munist gunboat fired on Hong
Kong NIL 1923 in disputed waters
in the Pearl River estuary. Re-
sulting casualties: Six British
navy crew members and one cap
tain of the Royal Hong Kong
defense force killed.
November IL: Chinese Commu-
mist shore batteries fired on S. S,
Inchulva, under British flag,
while entering Wenchow.
November IL: The S. S. In
chulva again attempted to enter
Wenchow. It was again shelled
with no damage.
1854
June 4: Chinese Communists
seized the British forces yacht
Elinor while, while on a pleasure
cruise, entered Chinese Com
munist water through naviga-
tional error. Two officers anC
seven men aboard were detained
till July 10.