893.00/10769: Telegram
The Minister in China ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 16—6:15 a.m.]
198. Following from American Consul General at Hankow:
“March 15, noon. Steamship Chi Ping of Yangtze Rapid Company with armed naval guard aboard was heavily fired on at mileage 46 to 48 above Ichang yesterday and Lieutenant C. M. Winslow, officer in charge of armed guard, slightly wounded and five Chinese wounded. Chi Ping was hit about 300 times by rifle bullets and three shells fired at the vessel from field pieces but no hits. Other vessels of Yangtze Rapid Company are being escorted today through the danger zone by the U. S. S. Tutuila. Steamship I’Ping also attacked same place and same day, one Chinese passenger killed. Armed guard returned fire both cases with rifle fire and machine guns, casualties observed among soldiers ashore who directed the fire against the American vessels with rifles, machine guns, and field pieces.”