ATTACK ON AMERICAN SHIP

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 299, 17 December 1937, Page 7

ATTACK ON AMERICAN SHIP

YANGTSE RIVER INCIDENT.

PANAY DELIBERATELY FIRED ON.

MACHINE-GUNNED BY SHORE FORCES.

(United Press Association.—Copyright.— Rec. 12 noon.) WASHINGTON, December 16. The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, has officially confirmed the reports that Japanese surface vessels and soldiers rnachme-gunned the U.S. gunboat Panay after it had been bombed from the air by Japanese 'planes. United Press emphasises the extreme significance of Mr. Hull s announcement that official dispatches from American Government representatives aboard the Panay confirm that Japanese machine-gunned the vessel from the shore. The United Press also says this is considered a most serious development in an already strained situation and is expected to lead inevitably to a stiffening of America's indignant protest. The satisfaction demanded by the Government is expected to be broadened considerably as a result, since it is considered to have been proved beyond doubt that the attack was not an accident Moreover, Japanese went alongside the Panay after the machine-gunning and boarded her while the American flag was still flying. Official suspicion has grown steadily regarding the deliberateness of the attack on the Panay, and it is considered certain that if reports from eye-witnesses are true the Government's attitude will markedly stiffen and that further action will be taken. Recall of Japanese Rear-Admiral. Meanwhile, Administration officials are most gratified at Shanghai reports that the Japanese Navy has recalled RearAdmiral Teizo Mitsunami, chief of aerial operations. It is understood he has been relieved of his post, and it is considered that this will back up the Japanese Government's promise to deal adequately with officials responsible for the Panay attack. TT*e U.S. Navy Department says the Panay casualty list is now three dead and 1 4 wounded, four seriously. A report is in circulation that the United States is already preparing a third Note to Japan, due to dissatisfaction that there is no answer to the first two.

The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" emphasises that eye-witnesses' accounts, indicating deliberate and premeditated action by the Japanese aviators and naval and ground troops have brought home the realisation that unless Japan meets the demand of the United States for full satisfaction an exceedingly grave diplomatic crisis will confront the two countries.

I declin ® comment pending the report from Lieutenant-Commander Hughes, of the Panay. , According to a British official wireless message, survivors of Lxe.^T y "f u ' V *' th « "I •>«' »nking™L m u"'tve*:l n rhe rmlr"an'fla n g ir mmd ' """ *»