PROTEST SENT INJURED AMBASSADOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 13

PROTEST SENT

INJURED AMBASSADOR

|NO IMMEDIATE DANGER JAPANESE EXPRESS REGRET INVESTIGATION ORDERED

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

(Received August 28, 32.30 a.m.) LONDON. August 27 The British Government has protested to Japan against the • ..wounding of ; the British Ambassador to China, Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen. Sir Hughe's motor-car was bombed by Japanese aeroplanes on the Nanking-Shanghai road. An official British statement says his condition ia serious, but he is in no immediate danger. He has been given a blood transfusion. A message from Shanghai says a bulletin states that Sir Hughe passed a reasoriably satisfactory night. He was definitely more restful this morning and the doctors are satisfied with his condition. A Japanese spokesman said that the unwarranted use of foreign flag : s by Chinese made their protection of bona fide .'foreigners doubtful. The attache, Colonel Lovat Fraser, paid a tribute to Sir Hughe's remarkable courage and calmness. Although in great pain he did not lose consciousness and insisted on attending to urgent business on his arrival at Shanghai before submitting to • the doctor's examination. Further details of the incident show that, apprehensive of two aeroplanes pursuing the car, the occupants were just alighting to take cover when they were machine-gunned. The Ambassador was the last to emerge and was caught in a fusillade. The military • attache was getting out when a bomb fell. The Japanese spokesman expressed regret for the "tragic occurrence" and added that the Japanese were not notified that the Ambassador was en route to Shanghai. Admiral Hasegawa, Japanese Naval Commander at Shanghai, has ordered the strictest investigation. The Japanese say that the car was inadequately identified and was travelling on a Chinese strategic highway. The British air attache is conferring with the Japanese.

SPRAYED WITH BULLETS TWO CARS BEARING UNION JACKS / '. JAPANESE MINISTER'S SYMPATHY, I' SHANGHAI. Amrnst 26 Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen was sleeping at midnight. Earlier he had suffered considerable pain and was given morphine. An examination revealed that a bullet entered his right side below the armpit and emerged on the left side below the shoulder blade. Part of the vertebra was shattered but the spinal cord was not severed. man who gave blood for the transfusion was Mr. H. Thompson, who is attached to the hospital corps of the United States Marines.

The attack on the Ambassador occurred near Lake Taihu, 50 miles from Shanghai. Sir Hughe was travelling in a first car with Colonel Lovat Fraser and Mr. Hall Patch, British adviser to the Chinese Ministry of Finance, with a Chinese chauffeur. A second car contained Mr. W. G. G. Graham, the Ambassador s secretary, and another Chinese chauffeur. The occupants were dashing for cover when one aeroplane sprayed the cars with machine-gun bullets. The Ambassador was not so quick in alighting as the others and was hit. Colonel Lovat Fraser rushed back to his assistance when another aeroplane dropped a bomb, which exploded within 30 feet of the cars and knocked Colonel Lovat Fraser unconscious. The aeroplanes flew so low that the red suns painted on the wings were clearly visible. Both cars carried Union Jacks on the radiators. Before leaving Nanking the Ambassador informed the Chinese, in order to ensure safe: conduct, but the Japanese were not informed,/ as the car was travelling only through Chinese lines and no Chinese were in the neighbourhood when the attack occurred. Mr. Koki Hirota, Japanese Foreign Minister, has instructed Mr. Kawagoe, Japanese Ambassador to China, to convey his sympathy. A Foreign Office -spokesman said it was unthinkable that Japanese aeroplanes would intentionally fire on the car. UNITED STATES ATTITUDE "HANDS OFF" POLICY EXPECTED / OFFICIALS SHOCKED BY OCCURRENCE WASHINGTON. August 2G The United Press states that officials in Washington are shocked by the wounding of Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen. It is believed the incident might precipitate the gravest international complication, but it is not anticipated that the United States will take an immediate hand in the situation. it. is believed* a "hands off" policy will be adopted by America such as Britain adopted in the case of the American Warship.Augusta, when an anti-aircraft shell fell on the vessel, killing one member of the crew and wounding 18. The possibility of such an occurrence has been of grave concern to the State Department.