FIRED ON BY ’PLANE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 244, 14 October 1937, Page 7

F IRED ON BY ’PLANE

THREE BRITISH CARS INCIDENT IN CHINA PARTY ESCAPE INJURY JAPANESE EXPLANATION |y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SHANGHAI, Oct. 12. Six ’planes, allegedly Japanese, attked and machine-gunned three itish motor-cars en route from inking to Shanghai, 16 miles from langhai. The occupants, including t assistant air attache, Mr S. MurV, alighted on the side of the road, lere were no casualties. The cars rried Union Jacks, which were eas- ' identifiable. A member of the Embassy party, I? Braham, in an interview, said that e Union Jack was conspicuously inted on the cars, but this did not ter the attackers. A bullet smashed window in one car. ;The British authorities informed |e Japanese, who issued a statement ‘daring that they had not been >tified that British cars were travelIg to Shanghai. The Japanese ithorities later stated that they had iceived a preliminary report showg that th? ’planes concerned were Bble to see the markings on the rs, which they supposed were ocipied by high Chinese officers. ;The Chinese are constructing elaboite fortifications in the region o? Jinghong, where the incident oc!.rred, and consequently are receivg especial attention from the Japane bombers.

The British Consul-General has Jmpleted a preliminary investigation. It is learned that the British Emfessy at Nanking notified the Japan|e Embassy in advance of the inten|bn to send the cars to Shanghai. A MISUNDERSTANDING SHANGHAI. Oct. 12. It is now understood that the Brith cars, owing to a misunderstand£g, followed a route different to that plicated to the Japanese. Accordtgly the British remonstrance is luched in mild terms. The Japan|e also declare that the British used Ito cars instead of three as notified, ■t according to Mr Braham his car fos nearly a mile ahead when the pc Japanese warplanes swooped pwn from 300 feet. The motorists Lrriedly alighted and rushed to tne fclds. The Japanese fired for six or |ven minutes. Mr Murray, seeing the ’planes menfcing overhead, descended ana Sowed he was a foreigner, but the ting continued. Presumably the remainder of the convoy was delayed to Ick up Shakov. a member of the lussian Embassy and a woman sectary, whose car broke down. The Japanese claim to have stoppea 'ring when they saw the Union Jacks Javed. Japanese machine-gunned a Rus- ' (an car going out to bring in Shakov. SIGNIFICANT ORDER MUSSOLINI AND HITLER XSTRLCTORS RECALLED FROM CHINA. LONDON, Oct. 12. The Tokio correspondent of the limes says that newspapers give Commence to messages from Rome jinouncing that Mussolini has orbred Italian aviator instructors to iscontinue service with the Chinese government. This step is reported !i have been taken in accordance ith Mussolini's agreement with Herr itler, who is recalling Germans who te training the Chinese Army. The papers also express gratitude Jr the Italian-German powerful fiendship enabling the Japanese to |iry on in the event of boycott by thers. RAID AT NANKING THRILLING AIR BATTLES. AERODROME AS OBJECTIVE. NANKING, Octo. 12. Thrilling air battles were witnessed then Japanese bombers attacked the prodrome at Nanking. One of the raiders was shot down, Jid the three others succeeded in popping about 60 bombs. SINEWS OF WAR JAPANS LATEST LOAN PEIPING RENAMED. TOKIO, Oct. 12. Official: The Bank of Japan is nderwriting a Government loan of ti 1,6000,000 to finance the war. The Asahi Shimbun announces that fie special trade agreement between lermany and Manchukuo will be exended to Japan. . A Peking message states that the ficlent capital, named Peiping by the anking Government in 1928, has teen renamed Peking by the Japanese ■ithorities and the use of Peiping is ■rbidden from to-morrow.