The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-01-14
SENTRY FIRED FIRST
Admiral Gleaves Accepts Report
of Japanese Commander at
VladivOstok.
CHALLENGE is IGNORED
Sentry Sought to Learn Lieut..
Langd0n's Identity Before
! Shooting.


i, wASHINGTON, Jan. i3.-NotihcatloIl
that the Japanese commanding o1icer at
Vladvistok has given orders that hcte-
after sentries must not challenge amer
leans and the formal expression OF re-
. rret by the Japanese went far tocay
towards adjusting the situation which
has arisen over the fatal shouting Dy u
Japanese soldier az that port OF Lieu
tenant w. II Langdon OF the cruiser
Albany.
The action Of this vladivostoS comman-
der. General OF. was reported % me
navy department by Admiral N'edNes'
commander in chief OF the Asiatic ileet'
who was on his way TO Vladivostok TO
conduct personal investigation.
The admiral added that the report Lad
been sent 70 him by radio ana that IN
view of developments he had abandoned
his trip OF Inquiry.
Ambassador Shidelara OF Japan, called
upon Acting Secretary Of State Davis
late today and expressed the deepest re-
gret Of his government that such an In :
cfdent should have occurred. Earlier ne
had received from the Japanese foreign
Office a version of the shooting whlch
differed from an earlier and equally OF
ncialiy version issued in Toxic in that the
enbassy's account agreed with Lieut.
Langdon's ante-mortem statement that
the sentry was the first TO fire.
The attitude OF the japanese govern
mont was also indicated In the cammunl-
cation 70 Admiral Gleaves. which salu
that high officials OF the JapaaeAe iorce
had expressed their sorrow ana reSieS.
Tha sentry who shot the American
ohan he was returning 20 his ship was
characterized In the communication for-
,sarded 10 Admiral Gleaves as ivory lg-
,orants' and In one OF the messages re-
ceived by Ambassador Shidehara II was
stated he already had been placed unuer
arrest and would be tried by courtfnar
tlal -
haa called upon Admiral Gleaves for
renort conferred with Secretary EavB
,odav I'm an effort 10 expedite so far as
poaible the gathering of the Iacts III
the case. The latter Immediately IT.
strllcted Consul MacGowan, from wnom
the first official news OF the inciuens
haa come. TO supplement his report anu
declared that II the facts warranted i.n
,mmediate and energetic protest would
~ made 70 Japan Later developments.
ba,vever are understood 10 have incnneu
offiaiais 10 believe that the situation y
an prospect OF final adjustmdnt.
Following Is the version OF the spoot-
ing received by the Japanese embassy
"The Japanese sentry stationed IN
s,.ont of the Japanese staff headquarters
az 4:30 in the morning saw nlal ap
croa ching who was using flashilsht
casting its rays upon the front or ne
ataff building. He stopped the c:an ara
demanded to know II he was Russian or
American Not understanding ihe reply
made by I.angdon the sentry soush 70
ami hack the hood which was drawn over
bls face 10 inspect him. The oftcer re-
.isted and drew q revolver, whercupoh
the sentry stepped back couple OF
oaees and presented his bayonet' The
africer turned to proceed ON his way
rhe sentry called TO him in japlneSe TO
stop. and when the order was aisresara-
sd ia ared I.angdon turned upon the
-. ana ared twice at him with his
revolver and then collapsed"
Another dispatch received at the en-
hassy states that the Japanese govern,
rnent and people are greatly concerned,
adding that the Japanese authorities
had lost no time in expressing inc" re-
grets.