By the end of March 24, Nanking was burning and littered with bomb craters and casualties from the battle. Early the next morning, just before dawn, USS "William B. Preston" was lifting anchor to escort SS "Kungwo" out of the area. She was filled with evacuees and needed protection, but just as the two ships were starting to leave, sniper fire from the riverbanks hit "Preston". The Americans returned fire with their Lewis gun and silenced the attackers after a few moments.