1937-12-29 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 29, 1937.

BRITAIN TO ACCEPT JAPANESE APOLOGY

Tone Of Ladybird Note Believed Conciliatory

LONG TOKYO EXPLANATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES

London, To-day.

Japan's reply to the note of protest against the bombardments of British warships in the Yangtse River was received here yesterday evening and is now being examined at the Foreign Office.

BELGIAN RED CROSS APPEAL

Brussels, To-day-

The Belgian Government has headed with 100,000 francs, the appeal by the Red Cross Com- mittee for the aid of victims in

Chinese Wa The national appeal has had the happiest re- sults and the committee of the Belgian organisation formed in Shanghai is starting work imme

It is not yet known whether the Japanese reply diately Reuter will be published, but it is expected that the British Government will issue an official statement regard- ing Japan's reply.

23

THREAT TO

TSINGTAO MORE MENACING

Tsingtao, To-day

With the Japanese threat Tsingtao momentarily becoming

more me ployees

many Chinese em-: deserted their posts

and evacuated the city.

The Postal Commissioner has appealed for volunteers and

respond

ed

MISS JOAN MASSEY many foreigners

MARRIED

The Chinese sta have also de- serted many leading firms, including Butterfield and Swire and Jardine's, while evacuation of their staffs has forced three Chinese newspapers to cease publication.

According to well-informed] The high commander then order circles here Japan's reply is ed units in the neighbourhood of couched in a conciliatory tone and Wuhu to attack the vessels. goes a long way towards satisfy-

STEAMERS IN FOG

Miss Joan Mary Massey, daugh ing British demands.

ter of Mr. and Mrs. P. W. Massey, WILL BE ACCEPTED

Although there was dense fog on

well-known Shanghai interport ten- Contradicting Chinese reports that There is every indication, the morning of Dec. 12, the com- therefore, that the British Gov-mander of the Japanese forces at nis and badminton player, recently General Yu Hsueh-chung's troops are ernment will regard the Japan-Wuhu discovered after a while four secretary to Mr. W. J. Carrie, moving westward from Tsingtao to ese reply as satisfactory and will large steamers anchored about Chairman of the Shanghai Refugee Support the Chinese lines at Wei- hsien, Japanese sources state that accept the apology and reparation three kilometres north of the city.

At about 9 am some of the shins/Committee in Hong Kong, became General Yu's wear were dishearten offered by Japan.

black the wife of Mr. James Gilberted by the capture of Tsinan and The British Government, how-suddenly began sending up ever, so it is declared, will stress smoke, whereupon the commander, Findlay, son of Mr. and Mrs G. B. Chowtsun and are retreating south.

TROOPS DISORGANISED that similar incidents must be deciding that the enemy was trying Findlay of Muswell Hill, London

News of capture of Chowtsun, the avoided under all circumstances to hide behind a smoke-screen, orat Holy Trinity Cathedral lest, in future. Trans-Ocean.

dered fire to be opened, and shells week. Dean Trivett, performed the

The Cathedral, which Japanese add, by Japanese troops, were seen to hit the forefront of the ceremony.

was beautifully decorated with caused disorganisation of the 114th first and second ships.

Christmas greens, was filled with and 108th divisions commanded by One of the ships advanced to- Well informed quarters here de-wards the Japanese forces while the many friends of the young Gen. Yu.. clare that the Japanese reply to the the others vanished downstream. couple and of the bride's parents Japanese reports also state that who are very well known in Shang-the ultimate destination of Gen. Yu's British protest regarding the bom- As it drew near, the British flag hai, Mr. Massey having served for forces is believed to be Hsuchow, in bardment of British warships in was recognised, and the comman-five years on the Municipal Coun- Kiangsu, and Pengpu, in Anwhei Yangtse River offers certain com-der ordered the cease fire. pensation, but adds that the Japan- When the ship came alongside it esë Government refuses to assume was discovered to be HMS. Lady- full responsibility for the incidents: bird.

The Japanese Government, it is said, holds the view that the best

At about 10 am the statement way to avoid future, incidents would

declares, one shell was fired in mis- be for British warships to stay outtake at a ship flying the British flag side zones where military opera tions are in progress.-Trans-Ocean.

TOKYO STATEMENTS

Tokyo, To-day.

LONG TOKYO STATEMENT

Tokyo, To-day.

SECOND MISTAKE

which was proceeding downstream. When the ship came alongside it was identified as H.M.S. Bee.

Rear Admiral Hoft, Mr. Prideaux- Brune, British consul at Nanking,

and other British officials, met the Japanese commander, who said the British flags could not be discern- ed d owing to the fog and smoke, so the Japanese believed the British vessels were enemy ships.

UNINTENTIONAL

The Foreign Office has issued long statement by the military au- thorities concerning shelling of the British men-of-war, HMS Lady- bird and H.MS. Bee, on December Furthermore, the statement as- 12, which is attributed by the Ja-serts, it was the duty of this de- panese to thick-fog and the smoke tachment to sink all enemy vessels screen rendering the vessels uniden on the river. while the Japanese units did not dream that any third- tificable.

power vessels would be in such a

As Mr. Okamoto, the Japanese dangerous fighting area. Consul General in Shanghai, request-

The statement further adds that ed third powers on December 8. to the vessels seemed to be landing evacuate their nationals from, the Chinese on the river bank, and zone of hostilities, the statement as concludes that the firing was an serts that "the high commander and entirely unintentional and unfor- all his men” did not dream of the tunate affair, and sincerely regret- presence of any foreign vessels inted by the Japanese command. the neighbourhood of the fighting

area

"SHOTS FELL SHORT””

However, the document proceeds FORTHCOMING

WEDDING

that on the afternoon of December 11, more than ten large steamers were observed fleeing up river from Hsiakwan, Nanking's waterfront The forthcoming wedding of Mr. district.

Robert Perry, of the Chinese Mari- The high commander ordered the time Customs, Hong Kong, and

nearby artillery corps to fire on the Edwina Louisa Rogers, of 188

43,

ships but the shots fell short, to Grampian Road, Kowloon, has been the chagrin of the Japanese soldiers." announce

cil

Reuter.

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