BRITISH CARS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 90, 13 October 1937, Page 11

BRITISH CARS

INCIDENT IN CHINA

NO CASUALTIES

JAPANESE EXPLANATION

(Unttod Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

(Received October 13, 10.15 a.m.) SHANGHAI, October 12.

Six planes, allegedly Japanese, attacked and machine-gunned three British motor-cars en route from Nanking to Shanghai, 16 miles from Shanghai. The occupants, including the assistant air attache, Mr. S. Murray, alighted on the side of the road. There were no casualties. The cars carried Union Jacks, which were easily identifiable. A member of the Embassy party, Mr. Braham, in an interview, said that the Union Jack was conspicuously painted on the cars, but this did not deter the attackers. A bullet smashed a window in one car.

The British authorities informed the Japanese, who issued a statement declaring that they had not been notified that British cars were travelling to Shanghai. The Japanese authorities later stated that they had received a preliminary report showing that the planes concerned were unable to see the markings on the cars, which they supposed were occupied by high Chinese officers. The Chinese are constructing elaborate fortifications in the region, of Minghong, where the incident occurred, and consequently are receiving especial attention from the Japanese bombers. The British Consul-General has completed a preliminary investigation.

It is learned that the British Embassy at Nanking notified the Japanese Embassy in advance of the intention to send the cars to Shanghai..