Evening star., 1927-04-03
NANK|NG OUTRAGES
LAID TO CANTONESE
BY CONSUL DAVIS
Attacks on Foreigners Made
Under Orders, He Tells
State Department.
OFFICIALS HERE SILENT
ON PREPARATION STEPS
Kellogg Consults With Williams
in Shaping American Program.
Situation Held Serious.
By the Asseciatea Press.


An impending clash with Nation
alist authorities in China over respon-
sibility for the Marking anti-foreign
outrages was indicated last night,
when the State Department made
public conclusions" of Consul John
X Davis at Marking, holding Nation
alist military commanders directly
accountable for what happened.
Davis said all evidence showed that
the attackers of foreigners were Ma
tionalist troops and that the attacks
had been planned and carried out un-
der orders.
A statement by Eugene Chen, Ma
tionalist foreign minister. published
IN Nanking and which denied partici-
patton Of Nationalist troops in the at
tack prompted publications of the Da-
Wis report Chen attributes the out
RACES to "Feactionary" counter rev.
olutionists and remnants" of the de-
feated northern forces from which the
city had been taken by the National.
lists. He protested the bombardment
by British and American war craft
and declared hundreds of Chinese had
been killed by foreign naval guns.
Seven Killed i'm Cold Blood.
Davis said seven persons were
killed in cold blood by soldiers in the
uniform Of the Nationalist army" In.
formation from "a wide range OF dis.
interested Sources he added, showed
that only. three Chinese civilians had
been killed in the naval b0mbardment
and that Chinese military casualties
could only have been among the forces
attacking foreigners.
"The outrages were committed by
the same troops which were engaged
in disarming the remnants of the
Northern armies, and they carried on
their conversations in the dialects Of
Canton, Kangsi and Human Provinces
(all Nationalist territory" Consul
Davis said. These soldiers bore no
resemblance whatever 10 Northern
soldiers, and 1t is absolutely fmpos-
sible for them to have been agents
Of the Northerners."
Summing up his conclusions. Davis
continued
ut is proven that the outrages were
planned and could not possibly have
been the accidental getting out of hand
of few troops"
Silent on Reparation Demands.
Publication Of the Davis report is
particularly significant, since the State
Department refused yesterday to dis
cuss steps 1t is preparing TO take to
exact reparations for the insult and
injury inflicted upon Americans at
Nanking. Indications are that final
determination has not been made, al
though demands to be presented to the
Nationalist authorities are believed TO
have been drawn up and to conform
generally to those the British cabinet
has decided to make in behalf of
British sufferers and British prestige.
Chen's statement, If taken at face
value. as the attitude of Nationalist
authorities In regard to the outrages
may influence the ultimate decision in
Washington as TO the course Of the
Government in dealing with the Nan
king incident.
The complete secrecy with which
Secretary Kellogg is surrounding his
study Of the Marking outbreak ard
formulation of American policy kin
that regard is itself significant OF the
seriousness OF the situation. The
State Department preserved silence
even in the face of London disclo.
sures that there had been official eX-
changes with Washington, and that
the London government was pressing
for a vigorous and united stand by the
powers involved.
Admiral Williams Consulted.
1t was admitted officially that Ad.
n1iral Williams. American naval COM
rnander in China. was being consulted
by the State Department in shaping
its program.
The summary of Consul Davis re-
port given out at the State Depart
ment, follows:
Consul Davis reports that Nation
alist soldiers deliberately fired upon.
L Ir2I T9aSGE GE-k
Japanese and American consuls,
knowing them to be such. In the con-
sui's own case. he had just given them
his card and asked 70 see their officer.
"In the case Of the Japanese consul.
he was shot at while In bed.
tAll three consulates were deliber-
atei'- looted and although this was
known by Nationalist officers no ef-
fective measures were taken to afford
protection up TO the time Of the naval
barrage TO rescue the party that had
taken shelter in the Standard on Co. IS
houses.
0utrages Committed.
Murder, robbing, attempted assault
and other outrag ges were committed
upon Americans and other foreigners
IN all parts of the city from o'clock
on the morning of March q, with no
attempts at oficial restraint. until
after the naval barrage at 4:30 pm.
Although the consul attempted all
day. through police authorities and
several other channels. TO see some re
sponsible officer, none would see him
From statements made to consul
Davis and to many other Americans
by soldiers. from soldiers conversa
tlons overheard by Americans In
hiding. and from the fact that soldiers
proceeded in bands whose movements
were under direction and We're prompt
Ty assembled by bugle call upon com
nencement OF the naval barrage, IL
Is proven that the outrages were
planned and could not possibly have
been the accidental getting out OF
hand Of new troops.
ION March "a and 25 the National
ist commander-in-chief not only re
fused to send high officer TO cons I'll
with naval and consular officers re
earding the safety Of foreigners re
1.aining in the city. but his reply was
both evastve and insolent
Barrage Stopped Attacks.
'sThe consul points out:
.f That the outrages were commit
I'D by the same troops who were