The Washington times., 1921-01-18
[ANCD0N SHOT
FOR NO CAUSE
Japanese Sentry Admits He
Killed U. S. Officer at vIadivo-
stok Without Prov0cation.

OWN bVVVVoksSss
Lieut.. w. II. Langdon, American
naval officer, who was shot and kill
ed by a Japanese sentry at Vladi-
vostok, January s, was the victim OF
an unprovoked attack, dispatches to
the State Department and to the
Navy Department agree.
BASED ON sENTRY's TALE.
Both sets of dispatches were based
on statements elected from the ac-
|cused sentry by the board OF inves'
tigation and court of inquiry con-
vened by the Japanese government.
The sentry's statements were de-
scribed as an agreement with the au-
temortem story of the affair by Lieu
tenant Langdon in that the sentry
was the first to fire. The scntry,
who previously had maintained that
the American officer fired first, also
was reported as having told the court
of inquiry that he had discharged his
rifle by accident
The dispatches to the Navy Depart
ment. filed by Admiral Gleaves, COM
vi TIC NSh"e'S h'~~~'
now en- route to Vladivostok with an
American naval court of inquiry to
investigate the shooting. added that
the sentry had been recommended Tor
court-martial by the japanese au-
thorities.
PERSIST IN PROBE.
While the dispatches received yes
terday were more complete than any
that had previously reached Wash
ington. and, while officials expressed
qualification that an agreement hao
been reached as to what actually hap
pened, no tendency was displayed In
official circles to relax the determi-
nation to investigate the matter
thoroughly. For that reason, Admiral
Gleaves, with his court of inquiry
will continue to await a reply to the
note sent the Japanese government
requesting an explanation OF the in
cident and assurances that it would
not be repeated.
The state Department was informed
in it's dispatches that Langdon, who
is described as "a total abstainer.'
was returning to his ship early or
the morning OF January s, using q
fashlight in order to pick his way
along the ice-covered street. The
sentry was on duty before the head
quarters OF the japanese Eleventh
Division.
sENTRY's ADMISSION.
The final story and full admissi IN
Of the sentry" the summary Of the
report of the investigating board as
received by the State Department
added, made after a thorough inter
rogation by the Japanese board of
Investigation and court OF inquiry
was that the sentry left his post ran
across the street, three times called
out halt and that Lieutenant Lang
that he then took position three
PAGES in front of Lieutenant Lang
don. with his rife held at the posi-
tion charge bayonets.' Lieutenant
Langdon then stopped, according to
the sentry's story and shifted the
electric pocket lamp to his left hand
cropping with his right hand into the
| pockets of his overcoat. The sentry
asserted that he himself then took
the position for action and queried
Lieutenant Langdon with tho words
Russian or American
SAYS SHOT "ACCIDENT.-
Tho sentry admitted that he was
very excited, but protested that he
did not intend to shoot Lieutenant
Langdon. but that his purpose was tc
seize Lieutenant Langdons electric
fash lamp and compel him to accom-.
pany him to the gYard in order that
he might ascertain who the lieuten'
ant was. He declared that he ther
discharged his rifle accidentally. He
added that after he had discharged
his rife by accident and wounded
Lieutenant Langdon in the breast
Lieutenant Langdon fred two OF
three revolver shots at him.
Tho state Departments report said
that all the high Japanese army ON
cers at Nladivostok had visited the
cruiser tlbany, Lieutenant bsngdon''
shIp. TO express their regret and sor.
row and tho japanese minister oi
~sr had teIegraphed condeienoa