BOMBING OF BRITISH WARSHIP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 October 1938, Page 5

BOMBING OF BRITISH WARSHIP

“DUE TO A MISTAKE” JAPANESE STILL INVESTIGATING (Received 26th October. 10.13 a.m.) SHANGHAI, 25th October. , Officials of the Japanese China Sea ] fleet in a statement said that the, f authorities believe the bombing of the ; I British gunboat Sandpiper wa*. due i* to a mistake and are still investigat-1 j ing the incident.

An eye-witness at Changsha says that the gunboat had not moved for two days and was flying the British ; flag. The superstructure was painted j red, white and blue. Six bombers flew overhead slowly and suddenly veered and dived in mass formation, each releasing a single bomb. Only one landed near the gunboat, fragments rattling aboard and smashing | the hatch and making a hole in the | cabins. j EXPRESSION OF DEEP REGRET [British Official Wirelessl (Received 26th October, 10.13 a.m.) RUGBY, 25th October. Following representations made at Tokio by Sir Robert Craigie, British Ambassador, on his own initiative, the Japanese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs called on him last evening to convey an expression of deep regret of Japan at the bombing of the British gunboat Sandpiper, and gave assurj ances of an immediate inquiry into the circumstances and responsibilities. BOMBING ACCIDENTAL (Received 26th October, noon) TOKIO, 25th October Naval headquarters reiterate that the i bombing of the Sandpiper was accidenj tal. They state that British information led the Japanese naval command [ to believe that the Sandpiper was at I Hankow.