The USS Monocacy Incident was an attack on a United States warship Monocacy in January of 1918 during World War I by Chinese soldiers along the Yangtze River. It was one of many incidents at the time involving armed Chinese men firing on foreign vessels[1]
Background
At the beginning of World War I, the European nations with flotillas on the Yangtze withdrew their vessels to reinforce their fleets in Europe. This left the United States Yangtze patrol with the only western naval presence on the river. China was initially a neutral power during the war, as was the United States. But when the American government declared war on Germany in 1917, a now belligerent flotilla of American ships occupied the neutral Chinese waters. As result the Yangzte Patrol was interned at Shanghai. The attack on the Monocacy occurred in January of 1918, just after the Yangze Patrol was released from internment upon China's declaration of war on Germany. Though the United States and China were allies, skirmishes between armed Chinese and foreigners became more and more common and would continue long after the First World War. The Americans recieved news that Chinese soldiers had fired on several foreign vessels in the area so in response bags of coal were piled on deck to provide cover for the sailors as they passed by the coast.[2]
Incident
While steaming through the river roughly fifty miles above Chenglin on the morning of January 17, the 200-ton Monocacy was fired on from both sides of the river by Chinese troops ashore who were armed with rifles. The first shot hit the jack staff. Lieutenant H. Delano was in command and he ordered his boat foward and the raising of the largest American flag aboard. Chinese fire increased as the Americans continued further up the river and Chief Yeoman Harold LeRoy O'Brien was hit hit a rifle shot and fell to the deck and died. Because of this the skipper ordered his men to open fire on the attackers. A crew manned the gunboat's 6-pounder and began to fire on the shorline where the enemy was hidden among trees and boulders. After firing only six or seven shells, the attackers retreated. One additional American sailor was wounded by Chinese fire.[3]
Aftermath
The incidents of Chinese troops firing on allied or foreign vessels was quickly brought to the attention of the western population of China. Protests broke out in Shanghai which ultimatley forced a Chinese apalogy and the payment of $25,000 to the United states government. The money was eventually given to the wife of Cheif Yeoman O'Brien and the affair was settled.[4]
United States
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Lieutenant H. Delano