New-York tribune., 1921-01-15
Naval Court to
Sift Shooting
By Japanese
Admiral Cleaves Appoints
Board to Go to Vladivos-
tok to Inquire Into the
killing of U. S. Officer
u. S. Demands Restitution
Note Infers Washington
Doubts Japan's Right to
Occupy the Russian City
From Tho yrioune's wosntnoton Bureau

From Tho Tribune's Woshtnoton Bureau
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-The kill.
ing of Naval Lieutenant w. H. Lang.
don at vladivostok by Japanese SEN
try is regarded as Serious and regret.
table" by the American State Depart
ment, which has transmitted to the
Japanese government a demand that
adequate steps" be Immediately taken
TO rectlfy the wrong SO far as possible
and to prevent recurrence of such an
incident.
At the same time, an American naval
court of inquiry, composed of high
ranking officers of the Asiatic fleet
was authorized to-day by Rear ADM
raj Gleaves, commander in chief of
the United States forces in Asiatic
waters. Accompanied by the Admiral,
the court will leave Manila January %
for Vladivostok aboard his flagship to
investigate the circumstances sur
rounding the killing of the naval Off
GER.
In the note to Japan, forwarded By
Acting Secretary of State Davis, the
Toxic Foreign Office is advised that
this government has been informed of
the fact Of Langdon's death, and con-
fidence is expressed that the Nipponese
government will view the incident in
the same light as this government. The
memorandum recites that the act of the
Japanese sentry is believed to be an
unjustified attempt to detain an Amer
lean officer, and the inference is plain
that doubt Is felt by this government
as to the right of the Japanese govern
ment to continue its occupation and
patrol of the city of Vladivostok.
Japanese Envoy Regrets Incident
In this connection it was recalled
that at the time of the withdrawal of
the American forces from Siberia this
government inferentially served notice
on Japan that the necessity for further
maintaining foreign military commands
there had ceased.
The dispatch of the American note to
Japan was decided upon after Baron
Shidehara, Japanese Ambassador to the
United States, had called at the State
Department and expressed the regret
of his government over the incident.
The call of Baron Shidehara, however,
was not interpreted as an apology, and
was not accepted by the State Depart
ment as adequate explanation of the
killing of Langdon.
While confidence was expressed to-
day by State Department officials that
Toxic would take steps to prevent
further assaults upon American naval
personnel, the belief was held by navy
officials that the challenging of any
foreign soldiery in Vladivostok was un-
warranted. The point was made that
troops Of the government Of Vladivo-
stok were the only authorities who had
this right
Personnel of Navy Court
The naval court of inquiry named
by Admiral Gleaves is composed of
Captain H. I. Cone, comma nding the
Huron, flagship of the commander in
chief; Commander j. B. Rhodes, COM
manding the Wilmington; Commander
Robert V. Lowe, commanding the naval
station at Olongapo, Philippine
Islands, and Major Eugene P. Fortson,
feet marine officer.
Admiral Gleaves notified the Navy
Department to-day that the Japanese
authorities at Vladivostok had or
dered a court Of investigation and
that Commander Richardson, of the
U. S. S. Albany, had received tele-
gram from the Japanese War Minister
expressing regret at Langdon's death.
1t is reported from Manila that the
Japanese government has agreed to
pay an indemnity because of the kill
ing of Lieutenant Langdon.