Hostage on the Yangtze : Britain, China, and the Amethyst Crisis of 1949 / Malcolm Murfett.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Murfett, Malcolm H., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

China--Foreign relations--Great Britain.

China.

Amethyst (Sloop).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (337 p.)

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Naval Institute Press, [2014]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In 1949, as the Chinese Civil War was about to enter its final, explosive stage, the small British frigate HMS Amethyst was sent on a dangerous mission up the Yangtze River to protect British citizens in Nanking. En route it was attacked by the Chinese Communists and held hostage on the river for several months before the crew managed to make a daring escape.The 'Amethyst' captured news headlines around the world and became an unlikely symbol of the cold war in Asia. This dramatic episode, hailed in the West as a triumph of the human spirit but bitterly condemned by the Chinese Co

Contents:

Table of Contents; List of Illustrations; Preface; Acknowledgments; 1. Gunboat Diplomacy; 2. Renewal of an Old Adventure; 3. Under Attack; 4. No Chance of an Understanding; 5. Mounting a Rescue Attempt; 6. Kerans Enters the Picture; 7. Youde's Mission; 8. Exploring Other Possibilities; 9. A Political Storm Is Brewing; 10. Opening Negotiations on the Yangtze; 11. More Questions Than Answers; 12. The Limitations of Naval Diplomacy; 13. Psychological Warfare; 14. Stalemate; 15. Escape in the Dark; 16. Aftermath; Appendixes; Notes; Select Bibliography; Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-61251-494-4

1-61251-321-2

OCLC:

882769181