BATTLE ERRORS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19519, 29 December 1937, Page 5

BATTLE ERRORS

TOKIO ADMISSION ANSWER TO WHITEHALL ATTACKS ON SHIPPING INEXPERIENCED AIRMEN APOLOGY AND INDEMNITY (Reed. Dec. 29, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 28. A Tokio message says that the Japanese Cabinet has approved of the reply to Britain’s note of protest over attacks by Japanese on British shipping in Chinese waters.

Mr. K. Hirota, the Japanese Foreign Minister, reported to the Emperor, and later handed the reply to the British Ambassador.

It is believed that the reply complies with requests for an apology and for indemnities and guarantees of'non-recurrence.

Tire Tokio correspondent of The Times says that it is believed that the reply will point out that the airmen who bombed the Scarab and Cricket were experiencing only their fourth day on active service.

The Tokio correspondent of The Times says further that the Japanese reply to the British note will claim that when a Japanese battery fired on the Lady Bird, visibility was poor. Japanese troops had moved up rapidly from Shanghai and, according to the Japanese case, knew nothing of the river or its shipping. The Japanese unit commanders assumed that all foreign ships had left the battle zone. It is suggested that the circumstances prove the attacks on British ships were errors committed in the heat of battle, and it will be frankly admitted that mistakes were made.

NOT ALWAYS CONVINCING REGRETS FROM JAPAN LONDON PRESS COMMENT (Reed. Dec. 29, 10 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 28. The Times, in a. leading article in relation to the bombing and sinking of the United States gunboat Panay by Japanese planes near Nanking on December 13, says:— “The Japanese Government rounded off a fortnight of strenuous apologies by presenting the American Government with a note On the Psnay sinking which repeats the earlier expressions of regret and goes on to say at some length that it was all a mistake. “It cannot be said that the Japanese explanations, though always plausible and sometimes obviously true, are consistently convincing. “After this the militarists, however lightly they may regard the pledged word of the Government they serve, hardly dare to tread on American toes.

“The significant point of the Emperor’s declaration to the Diet —'Our armies are enhancing their prestige at home and abroad’ —is not that he says what is patently untrue about foreign opinion, but that he says what is partly untrue about home opinion. “It would be ridiculous to suppose that with the launching of a ruthless war of aggression, all ideals, all enlightenment and all wisdom have suddenly ceased to exist in Japan.” Secret Pact Denied The Manchester Guardian, in a leading article, states: “The sinking of the Panay may have been settled as a diplomatic incident, but it may also be remembered in history as the turning-point in the development of American foreign policy. “President Roosevelt’s speech at Chicago met with little response. Nothing had then occurred to shock the American people, but the message in that speech, repeated to-day, would have a very different response. “It is possible that the response will be different again in a few weeks when, in everv town and village of the Middle West, the film depicting the bombing of the Panay has been shown. President Roosevelt will know how to take advantage of that lively emotion, but it is unlikely that he will concern himself only with American Interests.”

A New Ycu k message says that the New Ybrk Herald-Tribune in an editorial states: “We have still good reasons to doubt any change in the relative positions of the Japanese militarists and the Government. One reason is the effort of the authorities to keep the Japanese people in ignorance of atrocious features of incidents and the character of the settlements. The people were not told of the recall of the Japanese air force commander and the official American version of the bombing of the Panay was suppressed by all except one minor publication in Tokio. Therefore, wo must continue to wonder what the Japanese assurances are worth.”

May be Turning Point Mr. Cordell Hull, the United States Secretary of State, denied at Washington to-day a report of a secret Ameriean-Japanese agreement behind the settlement of the Panay incident. He said that he was not ready to comment on the regulations imposed by the Japanese military authorities on foreigners in China. A message from Washington says that the United States has decided to maintain a “hands-off” policy with reference to the showing of the films dealing with the sinking of the Panay. There will be no censorship. A message from Honolulu says that the Clipper carrying the Panay film has left for San Francisco. The films are expected at New York on Wednesday, and will be distributed to the theatres immediately.