The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-02-26
JAPAN EXPRESSES
POLITE REGRET
Toxic Government Sends Mes
sage on Killing of Langdon
SENTRY WHO SHOT
AMERICAN ACQUITTED
Superior Officers Given Repri-
mand and Minor Punishment

washington, Feb. 22.-Regret on
the part OF the Japanese government
over the fatal shooting Lieut.. W.
II. Langdon, an American naval off,
Ger. at Vladivostok early in January
is reiterated i'm the reply of that gov
ernment TO the note from the United
states government
The hope was expressed by the
Japanese government that the gov
ernment OF the United States will
fully appreciate the sincere spirit in
which the Japanese government has
acted in dealing with this most un-
fortunate incident"
The japanese government inform
ed the American government that
Major General Nishihara, command
Ing the Japanese garrison at Vladi-
vostok had been removed from the
active list Of the Japanese army and
that various officers under the COM
mand OF General Nishihara had been
subjected to punishment of various
degrees.
The state department made public
a paraphrase of the Japanese gov
ernment's reply, based on a cable
gram from the American embassy at
Tokyo, to whom the communication
was delivered yesterday. The para
phrase follows:
"A most thorough and exhaustive
examination was conducted by the
courtmartial resulting in the removal
from the active list of the japanese
army OF Major General Nishihara
commanding the Japanese garrison
at Vladivostok. The courtmaI tial held
that General Nishihara had been
guilty Of misinterpretation of the
barracks regulations and had thus in
CURED primary responsibility for the
unfortunate incident. He has been
deprived of the command of the gar
rison and of the rank OF briEadier
eAmmAnAlsx-lwsiess~sse~prcvtousfy -nefd
Tie barracks officer OF the rank OF
major has been adjudged guilty of
RESPONSIBILITY of the matter and
sentenced to confinement for 80 days
The assistant barracks officer and n
lieutenant have both been sentenced
TO similar punishment for a pe-
riod OF 20 days; the company COM
mander has been sentenced to q lesser
period.
THE commander-in-chie of the
Japanese expeditionary force in
V'adivostok has paid visit to the
United States cruiser Albany and ex-
pressed to the commanding officer of
the ship his regret at the occurrence
or the incident. The sentry who fired
the fatal shot has been held to be
excused by the orders and actions Of
his superiors upon whom RESPONSE
bility has been squarely placed and
VINO are to be punished as above
stated. The sentry. however, was
round guilty Of deception in his tes-
timony as to tho circumstances Of the
fatality and for this has been sem
fenced to confinement for 80 days
In addition to the expressions OF
regret or the part of the commander
In chief Of the Japanese expeditionary
forcc, the minister of foreign affairs
IN communicating the action Of the
courtmartial conveys to the Ameri-
can government the expression Of
deep regret on the part OF the Japan
csc government at the occurrence OF
THIS sad event and expressed the hope
that the government of the United
states will fully appreciate the sim
cere spirit in which the Japanese gov
ernment has acted in dealing with thi.
most unfortunate incident"