New-York tribune., 1921-02-23
TOkiO's Note ON
.L.anggdonKillirnge g
Satisfies V. S.
Sentry Acquitted of Acct
dental Murder Charge,
but Gets Thirty Days for
Deception i'm Testimony
Five Officers Penalized
Colby Issues Paraphrase
of Reply; Negotiations
ON Indemnify Proceed
From. The rrsbune,s Washington Bareos

From The Tr6une's Washington BareGb
WAS INGTON, Feb. 22.-Discipli-
nary action ar ainst the commanding
officers of the Japanese army of oc-
cupation in 'Vladivostok has been or
dered by the Japanese government as
q result of court martial proceedings,
following the killing of American
Naval Lieutenant W. H. Langdon by
Japanese sentry in the Siberian port
last month, the State Department was
advised to-day by the American En-
bassy at Toxic. The japanese gov
ernment also expressed its regret over
the incident
Secretary of State Colby, in announc-
ing this afternoon the receipt OF the
test dispatched following the murder Of
Langdon, characterized the reply Of the
Toxic government as very satisfac-
tory"
The superior officers in the Vladivos-
tok comma, were found responsible
for the Langdon incident, and penalties
ranging from the retirement fro ac-
tive service OF Major General Nishi-
hara to Jail sentences for subordinate
officers were inflicted.
The sentry who killed LanGdon was
wholly relieved of responsibility for
the shooting but was punished for de-
ception in his testimony
The matter of indemnifying Lang
don's family, Secretary ColNy said, is
still unsettled, and discussions on this
point are in progress between the two
governments.
Paraphrase of Note
The State Department issued the fol-
! lowing paraphrase of the Japanese
note:
"a most thorough and exhaustive ex-
animation was conducted by the court
martial, resulting in the removal from
the active list Of The Japanese army of
Major General Nishihara, commanding
the japanese garrison at Vladivost tok
The court martial held that General
Nishihara had been guilty Of misin-
depreciation of the barracks rcgula-
tions and had thus incurred primary
responsibility FOR the unfoI lunate Incl
dent. He has been deprived of the
command o. The garrison and of the
! rank of brigade commander, which he
previously held. The barracks officer
of the rank Of major mas been adjudged
guilty Of responsibility in the matter
and sentenced 60 cOnnnement for thirty
days. The assistant barracks officer
and a lieutenant have botn been SEN
fenced to a similar punishment for q
period Of twenty days. The company
commander has been sentenced to d
lesser period.
THE commander in chief of the
Japanese EXpeditionary Force in Vladi-
vostok has paid visit to the U. S. S.
Albany and expressed to the command
ing officer of the ship his regret at the
occurrence of the incident. The sentry
who fired the fatal shot has teen held
to be excused by the orders and actions
of his superiors, upon whom RESPONSE
bility has been squarely placed and
who are to be punished as above stated.
"The sentry, however, was found
guilty of deception in his testimony as
to the circumstances of the fatality,
confinement for thirty days.
''In addition to the expressions Of re-
gret on the part of the commander in
chief of the Japanese expeditionary
force, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
in communicating the action of the
court martial, conveys to the American
government the expression of deep
regret on the part of the Japanese gov
ernment at the occurrence of this sad
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.'"