Tokyo applauds rap for sub. officers

Press, 2 June 1981, Page 9

Tokyo applauds rap for sub. officers

NZPA-Reuter Tokyo The Japanese Government yesterday welcomed disciplinary action taken against two officers of the American Polaris missile submarine George Washington, which accidentally sank a Japanese freighter in April. "We appreciate the strict punitive actions taken,” Mr Shinichiro Asao. Director of the Foreign Ministry’s North American Bureau, told Parliament. American officials in Tokyo confirmed that the commanding officer of the submarine. Commander Robert Woehl, had been relieved of command of the vessel and issued with a letter of reprimand. They also said that the officer of the deck at the time of the accident in the

East China Sea on April 9, Lieutenant Roy Hampton, had been issued a letter of reprimand by the United States Seventh Fleet. They said that the two officers had the right to appeal and in any event the Pentagon (American Defence Department) would look into their case. The sinking of the freighter, the Nissho Maru, with the loss of two lives, set off a string of incidents which have turned Japanese Bublic opinion against the nited States Navy in Japan. Political analysts said that the reprimands against the two submarine officers may serve to dampen anti-Navy sentiment before the arrival in Japan of the United States Navy aircraft-carrier Midway on Friday.

Demonstrations are planned for the arrival of the ship, just back from an Indian Ocean cruise, because of widespread suspicions that the 64.000-tonne ship carries nuclear weapons in violation of Japanese . Government principles.

The United States Navy has refused to postpone the return of the ship to Yokosuka. near Tokyo, its home for the last eight years, because the 5000-man’ crew has 3000 dependants living on or near the base.

Mr Asao told Parliament that the United States Embassy in Tokyo told the Foreign Ministry of the reprimands on Saturday, the day before the Midway left the Philippines on its way home.