The Washington herald., 1921-02-23
Commanding Officer Is
Blamed for Shooting u.
S. Navy Lieutenant.
STATE DEPARTMENT
RECEIVES APOLOGY
Subordinates Get Conine-
ment for Responsibility
In Staying.
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING


Secretary of State Colby made
public last night the action taken
by the japanese government to
make amends for the unwarranted
killing of Lieut. w. II. Langdon, of
the American navy, by a japanese
sentry IN vladivostok a few weeks
ago.
Japan has expressed formally
deep regret" at the occurrence, has
removed the commanding general
of vladivostok and retired him from
the active list of the army and has
punished subordinate officers and
the sentry with terms of confine-
ment not exceeding thirty days.
While in navy quarters the re-
dress rendered by the Japanese gov
ernment is deemed inadequate, Sec
retary Colby regards the action sat
isfactory and is disposed to close
the incident with the exception OF
the discussion of reparation to the
family of Lieut.. Langdon, upon
which he is insisting.
Action Was Prompt.
The action of the Japanese au-
thorities," said Colby, has been
prompt and sincere, and ii will un-
doubtedly be received with apprecia-
tion in this country.
The State Department has re-
ceived from the Embassy in Tokyo
a cablegram reporting the delivery
by the minister for foreign affairs
of Japan OF a memorandum setting
forth the action of the court martial
held at Vladivostok to examine into
the circumstances under which the
late Lieut.. Langdon. U. S. N. met
his death.
"A most thorough and exhaustive
examination was conducted by the
court-martial. Resulting in the Nre-
moval from the active list of the
Japanese army of Maj. Gen. Nishi-
hara, commanding the Japanese
garrison at Vladivostok. The court
held that Gen. Nishihara had been
guilty of a misinterpretation of the
barracks service regulations and
had incurred primary responsibility
for the unfortunate incident.
subordinntes Sentenced.
He has been deprived Of tho
command of the garrison and of the
rank of brigade commander which
he previously held. The barracks
officer of the rank of major has been
adjudged guilty of responsibility in
the matter and sentenced to confine-
ment for thirty days. The assistant
barracks officer, a lieutenant, an6
the regimental commander have both
been sentenced to a similar punish
ment for a period of twenty days
the company commander has. beer
sentenced to a lesser period.
The commander in chief of the
Japanese expeditionary force in
vladivostok has paid a visit to the
u. s. S. Albany and expressed to the
commanding officer of the ship hi:
regret at the occurrence of the In
cident. The sentry who fired the
fatal shot has been held to be ex-
cused by the orders and actions oi
his superiors upon whom RESPONSE.
bility has been placed and who are
to be punished as above stated. The
sentry, however, was found guilty
of deception in his testimony as tC
the circumstances of the fatality
and for this has been sentenced tc
confinement for thirty days.
Offers Nations Regrets.
'In addition to the expressions OF
regret on the part of the commander
in chief of the Japanese eEpedi-
tionary force, the minister for for
eign affairs In communicating the
action of the court-martial conveys
to the American government tht
. expression of deep regret on the
. part of the Japanese government al
the occurrence OF this said event,
and expresses the hope that the
government 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"
1t also was disclosed that the
Tientsin incident which threatened
to disturb. the relations of Japar
and the United States in 1919 was
settled by a mutual exchange OF