INDIGNATION MOUNTING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 301, 20 December 1937, Page 7

INDIGNATION MOUNTING

U.S. DEMANDS SATISFACTION REACTION TO THE PANAY INCIDENT NAVAL' DEMONSTRATION CONSIDERED A POSSIBILITY (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received Dee. 19, 7.30 p.m. NEW YORK, Dec. IS. The United States seethes with conjecture as to what action the Government is contemplating if the expected reply from Japan is deemed unsatisfactory. Public indignation has mounted due to the prominent displays in the newspapers of eye-witness’ accounts of the boarding and bombing of the Panay. In this American and British writers are agreed regarding the essential facts, leaving no doubt as to the deliberate character of the attack. Despite official denials, the feeling persists that the Administration is planning a naval demonstration in the Orient. Even such newspapers as the New York Times continue to insist on such action as a likelihood. The intensity of the situation is increased by Press reports from Tokio to the effect that a struggle is raging in the innermost Japanese Government circles between the civil and military factions,'with the Foreign Minister, Mr. Hirota, waging a lone battle to obtain further concessions to the United States. The American public is unlikely to be satisfied with any evasive or incomplete reply to Mr. Roosevelt’s demands. Reports from Nanking of the wholesale Japanese atrocities and vandalism arc fanning the general resentment. Responsible officials declare that Mr. Roosevelt is determined to obtain definite and concrete Japanese guarantees against future attacks on United States ships and citizens in China before closing the Panay incident. Official dispatches from the American Government representatives in China are confirming in detail the eye-witness’ accounts from newspapermen concerning the attack, hence the officials state that due to such dispatches giving more and more grounds for official suspicion that the attack was much more deliberate than accidental, the position of the United States Government has now passed beyond demands for recorded apologies and reparations. Meanwhile the Administration is seeking a more responsible authority than the Japanese civilian Government to underwrite such guarantees. This is in accordance with strong indications from Mr. Cordell Hull (Secretary of State) who. with other officials, expresses the belief that past experience have demonstrated the complete inability of the Japanese civilian Government to control the military and naval forces or to give dependable guarantees of their future actions. It was with these conditions in mind that .Mr. Roosevelt bluntly requested that his views be communicated directly to the Emperor of Japan. The British United Press Tokio correspondent says that a new American Note has been presented. It is understood that it refers to the machine-gunning of the Panay. SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES Received Dec. 20. 1 a.m. LONDON. Dee. 19. A Tokio message says that General Matsui made a statement indicating the suspension of hostilities in order to allow the Chinese to reconsider their attitude.

DRAMATIC STORY , SINKING OF GUNBOAT CORRESPONDENT’S VERSION Received Dec. 19. 5.5 p.m. SHANGHAI, Dec. 17. Giving a dramatic description of the sinking of the Panay, an eye-witness, C. M. McDonald, the Nanking correspondent of The Times, who was aooard, confirms the American allegation that the Japanese machine-gunned the vessel after the bombing; also that they machine-gunned the survivors when they were going ashore in the boats. He adds that a Japanese motor-boat approached later and fired half a dozen shots at the Panay. Then a party of soldiers went aboard. ‘•Once the attack was begun there was no doubt about the purpose—a deliberate, systematic attempt to destroy the gunboat and all aboard,” he said. Mr. McDonald, after telling of the first attack, says that owing io the rapidity of noise and concussion, it was impossible to detail the attacks which followed, but only relatively small bombs were used, otherwise lhe veisel would have sunk instantly. The Panay’s machine-guns went into action soon after the first attack and blazed away with American sailors stripped to the waist and grimly firing al the oncoming ’planes, which swooped lower as the . vessel was readily disabled. The chief boatswain’s mate, who was bathing when lhe bombing began, was on decknaked directing the lire. Signor Sandro Sandri, the correspondent of ;he Turin paper Stampa, who was lit in the stomach, died after nearly 14 hours of agony. Meanwhile, the Panay, holed in icveral places, was slowly settling. The order was given to abandon the ship. The bombing and machine-gun-ning continued, but no time was lost in getting the wounded away in two small boats. The first boat was ma-chine-gunned halfway to the shore and five were wounded, one fatally. All the survivors were landed on a desolate stretch of mudbank. AGGRESSION CONDEMNED Received Dec. 19. 5.5 p.m. WINNIPEG. Dec. 17. The Legislature has adopted a resolution condemning the Japanese aggression in China. A motion to boycott Japanese goods and to prohibit the export, of war materials to Japan was rejected. NEW POLICY JAPANESE CABINET DECISION. Received Dec. 19. 7.50 p.m. TOKIO. Dec. 19. Cabinet, following five conferences with Imperial headquarters, agreed on a new policy now that Nanking has fallen. The matter is being reported to the Emperor*

SIMILARJXJTLOOK BRITAIN AND AMERICA CONCERN IN TOKIO [ British Official Wireless.] RUGBY; Dec. 17. Every development in the Far Eastern situation is being closely watched both in this country and in America, and the event sof last weekend have naturally served to emphasise the similarity of outlook of the two Administrations, which had, in effect, existed since the Far Eastern conflict began. The statement by Mr. Cordell Hull, that the two countries, "having common interests, purposes and objectives, have worked on parallel lines exchanging information and acting concurrently,” is accepted in Britain as a concise and entirely accurate description of the degree of collaboration existing. This collaboration is causing some concern to members of the Tokio Administration, who can see beyond the immediate prosecution of hostilities. It is even anticipated by some newspapers that it is necessary to be prepared against efforts designed to break it up, if possible. NO NAVAL DEMONSTRATION WHITE HOUSE ANNOVNCEMENI. Received Dec. 19, 9.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 18. White House "’has announced that no naval demonstration is planned in connection with the Panay sinking. The Secretary for the Navy, Mr. Stephen, stated that whatever arrangement had been made for licet manoeuvres had been drawn up long before j the incident. He declared that Mr. Roosevelt was extremely gratified with the. attitude the nation and the Press had taken in connection with the sinking. AMERICAN APPRECIATION BRITISH AID TO PANAY OCCUPANTS. Received Doc. 19, 8.30 p.m. SHANGHAI, Dee. 18. Rear-Admiral Yarnell sent the following message to Admiral Sir Charles Little: “The British warships’ unselfish disregard of their own safety in the face of threatened force by armed opposition, rendered all possible aid to the Panay’s occupants, exemplifying the proud traditions of lhe Royal Navy.” Fix That Chest Cold. Delay is dangerous. A constant hacking cough is not only weakening and distressing, but should never be neglected. Soothing relief quickly follows a few regular doses of Baxt rs Lung Preserver. "Baxters” quickly relieves congestion and inflammation. Be sure to buy "Baxters,” which has unique properties, including a wonderful tonic action that assists rapid recovery. All chemists and stores sell ’•Baxters"—ls "d. 2s 6d, 4s 6d.—Advt.