ASSAULT CASE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22950, 31 January 1938, Page 11

ASSAULT CASE

AMERICAN VICTIM OFFICIAL PROTEST SHANGHAI INCIDENT ATTACHE'S EXPERIENCE HOSTILE JAPANESE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received January 30, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, has instructed the United States Ambassador at Tokio, Mr. J. C. Grew, vigorously To protest against the slapping of Mr. Allison, third secretary at the Embassy, following the publication of a report that the attache was affronted while investigating a Chinawoman's charge that she had been three times criminally assaulted by Japanese soldiers who kidnapped her from the American University at Nanking. The State Department considers that Mr. Allison's mission was a legitimate one. Moreover. Mr. Allison reported that he received little comfort ' from the Japanese Embassy when he reported the incident there. Tt was intimated to him that the sentry was within his rights in slapping him. Investigation of the Matter

Later, however, the Japanese attache made a personal apology. The State Department is gratified that the .Japanese high command sent a senior officer to Shanghai and to Nanking to investigate the violation of American rights, but it looks upon as very grave the fact that responsible Japanese officials showed almost a hostile attitude about Mr. Allison's slapping in' contrast to the conciliatory tone adopted after the sinking of the Panay.

It was stated yesterday that in connection with complaints of the behaviour of Japanese soldiers at Nanking, Major-General Homma and another senior officer were ordered to make a full personal investigation. Japanese Allego Insolence The Japanese spokesman said the slapping of the face of Mr. Allison was the result of his own insolence in refusing the sentry's order to leave an occupied Chinese house in which he was making investigations. Furthermore, he was an outspoken critic of the Japanese Army. In add : - tion Mr. Allison shook his fist and called a Japanese soldier, who was trying to board his motor-car as escort, an imbecile.

The commandant apologised for the face-slapping only as a gesture of courtesy because the sentry was in the right.

LONG STRUGGLE JAPAN'S PREPARATIONS REORGANISING THE FORCES TOKIO, Jan. 28 In addressing the House of Peers, General Sugiyama, War Minister, said the military authorities were convinced that extensive military reorganisation was necessary, and the employment of large forces was required for the longterm warfare, on which the Chiiiese "incident" had apparently entered. Appropriate measures would be taken to that end. The Asahi Shimbun interprets General Sugiyama's statement as meaning that the army of occupation will remain in China five to 10 years. A Seivukai member, Mr. Kunitoshi Tsugumo, demanded, in the course of the Budget debate, an explanation of Japan's Army estimates of £180,000,000. He pointedly questioned the Finance and Commerce Ministers, who refused information. The Finance Minister, however, declared that the Government was doing its utmost to assure ample supplies of war materials. Mr. llyutaro Nagai, Minister of Communications, said the aeronautical research institute proposed under the "five-vear" plan would be the world's best. Five hundred civilian pilots would be trained in the year beginning April 1, 28 aerodromes would be established, and international air routes opened as the result of negotiations with other countries. The War Office announced that Japanese soldiers in Manchuria, North and Central China, when their time expired, would be disbanded and allowed to settle where they were stationed.