Japanese Sheel Two British Warships - The gunboat "Bee". The British warships were shelled by Japanese field-gun batteries at Wuhu, south of besieged Nanking. The gunboat Ladybird was the victim of four direct hits, casualties being one killed and some injured. The gunboat Bee, flagship of our Yangtse fleet came under fire too as she was not hit. The Japanese state that it was a "mistake." December 13, 1937. (Photo by Topical Press).