ACTION BY AMERICA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22822, 1 September 1937, Page 13

ACTION BY AMERICA

A VIGOROUS PROTEST AMBASSADOR INSTRUCTED POSSIBLY AN ACCIDENT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received August SI. 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 30 The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, has ordered the American Ambassador to China, Mr. Nelson T. Johnson, to lodge r vigorous protest with the Chinese Government against the bombing of the liner President Hoover. Also. Mr. Hull announces that all American merchant vessels are warned to avoid Shanghai. It is revealed that United States naval vessels are in the vicinity of Shanghai ready to evacuate American nationals whenever they desire to leave. The Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Wang, in a personal statement expressed sympathy with those injured through the bombing of the liner. He said press reports indicated that Chinese airmen were accidentally responsible, although that had not been confirmed .officially. A telegram from New York says an ironic eight column headline on the front page of the New York Evening Post reads: "U.S. 1 Mercy Ship Bombed by Chinese Aeroplane (made in the United States)." ft is stated that the Chinese airmen were attempting to bomb a Japanese troop transport near the President Hoover and flew off when Japanese destroyers raced up and opened anti-aircraft fire. The British cruiser Cumberland was near by and went to the President Hoover's assistance. Airmen in four machines bombed the liner well outside territorial waters. She is now sailing at full speed to Kobe. Previously a surgeon from, the Cumberland went on board the President Hoover, which is carrying 257 passengers and 320 of a crew, and performed two emergency operations. Two wounded passengers and five wounded members of the crew were taken on board the Cumberland. Admiral Yarnell instructed the captain of the President « Hoover not to call at Shanghai, but to proceed to Japan, and similarly /instructed, the captain of the President McKinley. This indicated the issuing of orders to all United States shipping not to attempt to enter hostile waters at Shanghai. A message from Paris say 3 the news of the bombing of the President Hoover cetused a slump on the Bourse, French foreign securities weakening all round. READY TO MAKE REDRESS PROMPT ADMISSION OF ERROR CHINESE OPEN NEGOTIATIONS - NANKING, August 30 Th«v Chinese have promptly admitted their error in bombing ih.e American passenger liner President Hoover. The Foreign Office at Nanking to-day issued a statement that preliminary reports indicate that the President Hoover was between two Japanese warships and was mistaken by a Chinese pilot for a Japanese transport. Negotiations have already been started for an early settlement of /'this deplorable incident." The Chinese Ambassador at Washington has been instructed to convey the Chinese Government's regrets to the State Department and its readiness to make immediate redress. Japanese naval headquarters cllciim that one of four Chinese war aeroplanes which bombed the President Hoover was shot down by anti-aircraft fire from Japanese destroyers. FRENCH SEMINARY RAIDED OUTRAGE BY CHINESE IRREGULARS / REFUGEES EJECTED, PRIESTS SEIZED (Received Acjrust !tl, 5.5 p.m.) PEKING, August 30 Several thousand Chinese irregular troops seized and looted the French Catholic Seminary at Heishankow, 12 miles from Peking, and drove out 5000 Chinese war refugees. The intruders shot and seriously wounded Father Francois, director of the seminary, and carried off as prisoners eight French and three Hungarian priests and 12 Chinese converts.