WAR IN NORTH CHINA

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 50, 27 August 1937, Page 9

WAR IN NORTH CHINA

BRITISH AMBASSADOR WOUNDED-

CAR ATTACKED BY JAPANESE PLANE

I/tilted Pcta. Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received August 27, 10 ami. ) SHANGHAI, August 20. The motor-car of the British Ambassador to China, Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugcssen, K.C.M.G., was bombed,and machine-gunned by Japanese planes as lie was motoring to Shanghai from Nanking. The Ambassador was injured in the stomach and sent to hospital. The military attache to the Embassy, Colonel Lovat-Fraser, was driving the car, which was flying the Union Jack. A plane swooped down#and machine-gunned the car, and then dropped a bomb immediately ahead, of it. Colonel Lovat-Fraser and Mr. E. L. Hall-Patch, British adviser to the Chinese Ministry of Finance, who was also in the car, were affected by concussion but soon recovered, and they rushed the Ambassador to hospital. It was'found that he had been shot in the spine and the liver. Two planes were pursuing,the car, and the occupants were just alighting to take cover when they were machine-gunned. The vYmbassador. who was the las! to emerge, was caught in the fusillade. Captain Lovatt-Fraser had stopped the car and was getting out when the bomb fell. The Japanese spokesman expressed regret at the "tragic occurrence" and added that the Japanese were not notified that the Ambassador was en route to Shanghai. Admiral Hasegawa has ordered the strictest investigation. The Japanese point out that the car was' inadequately identified and was travelling on a Chinese strategic highway. The British Air Attache is conferring with the Japanese. Sir Hughe had a blood tiansfusion, and an officia 1 British statement says that he is in a serious condition but that there is no immediate danger. , Shanghai is apprehensive as a result of the incident.