The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-16
us. |NSU[TEO'
DEATH
Call Japan to Account, Demands
Father of Lieut.. Langdon,
Slain at Vladiv0st0k.

BOSTON, Jan. l6. - Parents Of
Lieut.. Warren II. Langdon, engineer
officer aboard the American cruiser
Albany, who was shot and killed by
Japanese sentry at Vladivostok on
January 8, yesterday declared that
the Japanese government should be
required Eat least" to apologize for
the numbering Of their son.
DEMANDS INQUIRY.
w. C. Langdon. father of the
slain officer. was outspoken in his
demand that the State Department
make thorough investigation of
the incident. Ito prevent another
similar outrage" He expressed con-
fdence in the American Government
sitting the matter to the bottom.
Il would not like to see an in
ternational war over the matter"
declared the father. "for | would not
want to see one of our American
boys lost for million Japanese.
But something should be done to
prevent another insult to the Amer
lean flag.
When the Japanese say that my
boy shot at the sentry first, they lie.
the sentry's challenge. they lie.
Warren was in the navy for some
twelve years, before that n national
guardsman in New Hampshire. and
he was lieutenant in the navy. lie
would not disregard a challenge.
WANTS JAPAN TO SMART
THE circumstances show that he
was shot in tie back and that
ought to be convincing enough that
he was fired on first. The japanese
ought to be made to smart bit
for the incident. My boy is gone,
and all the apologies in the world
will never bring him back. Neither
would any indemnity paid by Japan.
All the money in Japan could never
pay for my boy. But certainly our
Government should take steps to
make another similar insult un-
likely"
Langdon operates an art shop at
I31 Center street, Jamaica Plain,
few blocks from his home. which is
at II Thomas street. His wife, mother
of the slain naval officer. Mrs. Idella
l.. Langdon, was surrounded by a
group of relatives and friends when
interviewed.
She had a premonition that harm
would come to her son If he went to
Russia and she said many times she
told him that of all places on earth.
she hoped he would never be sent to
Siberia.
From childhood l have dreaded
Siberia" she said. 81 have always
thought of Siberia as bleak and
desolate place, with danger lurking
all round In January, 1919, Warren's
ship was at Boston and he came
home nights and on his days of leave.
zone day he said he was TO be
transferred to a ship going to China,
and then | told him ] hoped he
would not have to go to siberia. He
sailed for China a few days later.
His ship touched at Japan, China,
and the Philippine Islands, and then
he wrote that he was in Vladivostok.
"He wrote me often and told of
terrible conditions in the city. The
Japanese fought Russians and finally
tore down the red flags and put up
the Japanese flag. Warren wrote me
that rioting in the streets was an
everyday occurrance; that American
officers had to carry firearms while
walking the streets of Vladivostok.
FEARED SOME EVIL.
"In every letter I wrote him l beg
gcd him not to go ashore. | said.
Warren, your duty does not require
aboard ship feared some evil
you to go ashore, so please stay
would befall him. He was big
man, six feet two inches tall, and
was perfect officer in his trim
naval uniform.
Gle wrote me that murders in the
streets Of Vladivostok were so com
mon that little attention was paid to
them. But he seemed confident that
his 'trusty As as he called his re-
volvcr. would protect him.
Warren did not ike to have our
soldier boys in Russia. lie felt that
was no place for them. They were
safe while within range OF the naval
guns, tut when they ventured out
they would get in trouble. But for
every American killed, Warren said,
IhlrIN or more ,Rnda, Mcrn klllcd-