Evening star., 1932-02-01

toned to use the utmost forbearance in
relations with the japanese and Chi
neSe. In that condition, too the State
Department formally stated today:
With reference to the movement of
American ships and troops to Shanghai.
| these movements are solely for the pro-
lection Of American lives and property
and for fulfilling our responsibilities to
American citizens at Shanghai and
other exposed ports in the Yangtze and
elsewhere in China"
Transport Sails Tomorrow.
From the study in which Lincoln di-
rected the operations of the Civil War,
President Hoover broke the Sunday
quiet yesterday to send out orders to
Army and Navy. A radio to the
Philippines sent 900 khaki-clad dough-
boys SCurrying aboard the transport
Chaumont, ordered to sail tomorrow.
BY another message Admiral Taylor,
commander of the American ASiatiC
Fleet, was sent to sea with the cruiser
Houston and additional deStroyers.
steaming full speed for Shanghai. They
will stand by, ready to evacuate the
American population if necessary.
The American action came with
Great Britain's dispatch of three cruiS-
ers, infantry and artillery from Hong
kong. while France for the first time
Joined in with representations to Japan
for the protection Of the International
Settlement of the Chinese seaport and
the promise of an armored cruiser now
stationed in Indo-China
Short of presentation of an ultima
| tumlike demand to Japan for with
drawal of her invading force, the Amer
lean action was the most forceful
conceivable. Use of the Regular Army
abroad has for precedent only the re-
lief of Peking in the Boxer rebellion
Of 80 years ago and the A E. F. of the
World War. Virtually the entire United
States Asiatic Fleet will be maSsed at
Shanghai
But the commanders were carefully
instructed to use the utmost forbear-
ance' toward both the japanese and
Chinese. Their assigned task was
purely one Of protection, not only of
the large American and other foreign
population Of the treaty ports (some of
the warships will take stations up the
Yangtze River, but Of the enormous
property investment in commerce and
mission enterprises
The orders followed long consulta-
ton between President Hoover and
State, War and Navy Secretaries, as we'll
as ranking officers of the Army and Navy.
They were issued after desperate pleas
for help from Shanghais Americans,
who are guarded now only by 1900
Marines and deStroyers at anchor in
the harbor. Three of these have just
arrived.
In both the military orders and the
protest to Toxic, this Government
brushed aside the repeated assurances
| from Japan that American interests
would be scrupulously protected, heed
ing instead the factual reports from
consular and military representatives
in Shanghai
These told of acts of invasion within
American territory as well as the
bombing of an American mission build
ing in the half-deStroyed native sector
where most of the bloodshed has taken
place.
The Presidents action in dispatch
ing troops and ships was announced in
terSe White House statement which
recited the receipt of a plea for rein
forcements, the order for troops, and
concluded:
las soon as conditions permit the
troops will be returned to Manila"
No comment was made by officials on
receipt of word that France had Joined
the Americana British action in CHINA,
but there was obvious gratif1catlon IN
view of former reports to the erect
that nation would act only in concert
with the League of Nations peace
efforts,