The Battle of Chefoo

Ever since the Japanese occupation of Shantung, Chefoo has been one of the principal ports of call of coastwise British steamers. Chefoo exports famed Shantung lace and most of the hairnets worn by U. S. women. Last week one of these ships, the Hunan, idled along off Chefoo. In its hold lay a cargo of bean cakes, machinery, flour, and beer for the British flotilla preparing to assist in the blockade of Vladivostok. A handful of passengers--missionaries, German merchants, two or three mysterious White Russians--were lolling in the lounge; a couple of junior officers were playing ping-pong; below decks a horde of Chinese coolies bickered and laughed. On the bridge the lookout casually noticed the approach of a Japanese torpedo boat

Suddenly a shot rang out from the Japanese. A light shell exploded in Hunan's superstructure. As Hunan's crew and passengers angrily lined the rail, they saw the torpedo boat put over a launch. Several officers scrambled into it, and it set out toward the Hunan. When it came within hailing distance, one of the officers stood up and shouted: "So sorry. We want examine papers. We want fire across bow. We think we fire blank shell. We fire live shell. So sorry."

At the nearest Japanese naval base, Tsingtao, Japanese authorities hurried to apologize and offer $200 in damages to the British Consulate. The Consulate wired the Embassy. The Embassy, thinking the loss of face and the joke worth much more than $200, marked the case as closed.

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