1937-12-21 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 21, 1937.

Pare 3

FINDINGS ON

PANAY OUTRAGE CRITICISED Completely Contradictory To Story Of Survivors

JAPANESE

JAPANESE COMMANDER

DOES NOT CONSIDER HE WAS AT FAULT!

Shanghai, To-day.

The findings of the Japanese enquiry into the Panay outrage, announced by Major-General Har- ada yesterday, indicate variance with accounts

CHINESE

LEADERS

IN COMMONS

London, To-day- Mr. Chen Kung-po sp Chinese envoy to Europe, accom panied by the Ambassador, Mr. Quo Tai-chi, visited Mr. Neville Chamberlain in the House of Com- mons yesterday Reuter.

given by naval and civilian survivors of the United HANKOW AIR

States gunboat.

The findings, read by Major-General Harada to the press conference in a statement, were vaguely worded.

Main conclusions were that three Japanese aeroplanes bombed the Panay,

That the gunboat fired three cannon shots at Japanese army units, and

That the latter did not fire on the Panay.

Major General Harada denied that Japanese army boats fired on the Panay, and asserted that the gunboat was moving at the time of! the attack.

Officers of the Panay reported that the gunboat had anchored two hours prior to the bombing.

All points mentioned in the Ja- panese statement were strenuously queried by correspondents who had been on board the Panay:

The correspondents pointed out

AN EARLY

RETRACTION- WRAPPED UP

Shanghai, 12.27 p.m.,

To-day.

A retraction of one of

that survivors contend that first the main findings of the three, and then six, machines, were concerned in the bombing.

Panay investigation has Firing of the Panay's cannons now been made by Gen- was utterly incorrect, and Japanese eral Harada, at a press

conference.

tný units fired hotly on the gun- beat

Another point of dispute was the He stated that it had now been Japanese assertion that the Panay established that the Panay did not was moving at the time of the at-fire any cannon shots at Japanese tack

Jarmy units, but he reiterated that the Japanese army boats did not fire on the gunboat.

JAPANESE ATTITUDE

Major-General Harada emphas ed that the Japanese commander whose troops were involved, "didn't consider he was at fault."

Major-General Harada is an nouncing the findings of the Lady- bird incident to-day (Tuesday). Beuter.

FURTHER DIFFICULTIES

Tokyo, To-day.

General Harada said his statement was based upon an investigation by Teut-Colonel Nishi, a War Office staff officer, who explained that the commander of a small Japanese unit said he heard the sounds of what appeared to be shells, but the com mander of a larger unit saïd be con- sidered this not to be the case since no shells exploded in the vicinity.~“

General Harada and Lieut. Colonel

RAID ALARM

Hankow, To-day. Air-raid sirens and whistles sounded here for the first time in nearly two months, at noon yesterday, when Japanese planes were reported to be heading for Hankon.

SIERRA LEONE COAST DEFENCE TO BE MANNED

* London, To-day. The War Office announces that as the result of a decision taken some time ago, Freetown, Sierra Leone, is again to be provided with a re- gular garrison in peace to man its coast defences.

The coast defences will remain substantially the same as they are

at moment though certain modifica- tions and additions will be made to adapt them to modern requirements.

An advance party recently arriv ed in Freetown to carry out pre paratory work. The coast defence units will consist of British, Euro- pean and African personnel.

By arrangement with thể- Gov- ernment of Sierra Leone, the

re-

The usual tense activity waiting and training of African

witnessed, civilians flocking into the Special Administrative Areas to take refuge in godowns and other danger-proof shelters, including dugouts recently con- structed along the waterfront.

Nine fighting planes, which appeared to be Russian machines, were in the air yesterday wait- ing for the visitors.

The planes sounded powerfu and fast, and displayed excellent manoeuvrability.

No Japanese raiders appeared and the all clear was given at 1:30 p.m...

The alarm was later explained

by a report from Kiukiang stat

ing that nineteen Japanese planes-appeared and bombed the aerodrome and railway station, which are stated to have been slightly damaged.

The raiders subsequently dis- appeared in the direction of Nanchang, where they dropped thirty bombs on the railway station and aerodrome nearby.

Reuter.

HITLER MESSAGE OF SYMPAPHY

Berlin, To-day. Herr Hitler has sent a telegram

personnel Lave commenced under the aegis of the Sierra Leone Battalion, Royal West African Frontier Force.

British Wireless..

PROFESSORS HONOURED

Shanghai, To-day. The German head of Tungtsi University, Professor Birt, and his colleague, Professor Berrer, - were yesterday presented with a silver plaque in recognition of the ser- vices rendered by them.

The presentation was made by the Counsellor of the German Em- bassy, Herr Fischer, in the pre- sence of the teaching staff of the University-Trans-Ocean.

BRITISH AGEHT IN SPAIN

London, To-day. General Franco will shortly re- ceive Sir Robert-Hodgson, first Bri tish Agent to Nationalist Spain, ac- cording to press reports from Sala-

manca.

Sir Robert, it is reported, will Nishi both said they personally of condolence to Frau Ludendorf travel to Burgos for this purpose Talking to foreign pressmen last doubted the report alleging that the on the "heavy loss which you have to-day Tuesday) Trans-Ocean.

sustained by the death of your hus- night on the Panay outrage, a Panay fired shots. Reuter.

band Foreign Office spokesman said that

according to latest reports from

Nanking, the important question of "who opened fire first, had not] yet been solved.

The spokesman added that Ja- panese diplomatie circles took the view that the incident was “mainly the result of misunderstandings.”

Despite the complicated tion, the Japanese Government was convinced that a mutually satisfac

situa-

tory solution could be found, al though the guarantees for the safety of American nationals, manded by the United States Gov- ernment, would possibly lead to further dinculties in the rse of future military Ocern.

"I express my heartiest sym-

EIICHI BABA pathy.

PASSES

Tokyo, To-day.

Eight days after resigning the Home Ministership owing to reasons of ill health, Mr. Euch. Baba died to-day at the age of 56.

Mr. Baba came into promin- ence as Finance Minister in the Hirota Cabinet, when he insti tuted reforms in the system of ion and brought into being the cheap money" policy, there

the falling into line polices of European

“In the great soldier and leader, General Ludendorff, the German nation loses one of its great and most faithful sons, whose work in war and peace was devoted solely to Germany's welfare.”— Trans- Ocean.

DUKE OF AOSTA AT PORT SAID

Rome, To-day.

The new Viceroy of Ethiopia, the 1Duke of Aosta, on his way through the Suez Canal, received a courtesy the

Schof No. call from representatives

Ocean?

41 Conduit Road, Miss Kwok Yan King of Egypt yesterday. Trans- Sang of No. 79, Bonham Road and H. F. Nalder, of H. M. S. Grimsby, were this morning fined $2 each by Mr. R. A. D. Forrest at the Central Magistracy when they pleaded guilty General Roeder, returned here last to leaving their cars in the Central night-after a visit to Naples.- Car park over the time lirait-

Hungarian

Rome To-day

Minister

Oceans