The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-11

The Chinese Kuomin News
Agency indicated a new Chi
nese quarter was threatened
with attack, when it an
nounced Japanese were pre-
pairing to lombard Nantao,
the extensive native quarter
south of the French conces-
sion.
Japanese air raiders rained bombs
on a Chinese-o owned cotton mill IN
which nineteen United States ma
rines were station today, killed four
Chinese women and one man mon
combatant) and sent 5000 mill
workers screaming from the wrecked
building. Most Of the workers were
women.
Sixteen of the women workers
were wounded by flying shells, frag-
mentS and debris.
Strong representations to the
Japanese by the American govern
ment are believed likely An Amer
lean marines story that the bomb
ing probably was an accident"
may be the explanation offered.
Admiral Kichisabur6 Nomura, in
command, assured Admiral M. M.
Taylor, head of the American naval
forces, that incidents such. as the
mill bombing will not happen again.
This was interpreted as meaning
that Japanese airplanes will dis
continue flying over the interna-
tional settlement.
Regret Is Voiced
Admiral Shimada, Nomura's chief
of-Staff, expressed regret to Admiral
Taylor for the cotton mill bombing
and said the japanese would pay
compensation is necessary.
The Japanese we're attempting to
dislodge Chinese troops concentra-
tons across the settlement line in
the Markham road sector when they
bombed the mill on the foreign side
of the barbed wire defenses.
The explosion spread panic. AM
balances rushed changing through
crowded streets. Women and chill
dren covered inside their homes,
shaken by the conclusion.
The bomb crashed through the
roof. 1t exploded on the top floor
of the two-story modern structure.
1t demolished a row of Keeling ma
chimes. The damage was estimated
at 10000 taels (about $4,000.
Accident, Marine Thinks
United States marines posted as
lookouts on top of a nearby flour
mill witnessed the bombing. Private
M. c. Ford, in the squad, described
the incident.
1T looked to me like an accident"
Ford said. THE plane apparently
dropped the bomb due to careless
ness. The Japanese had been flying
over the sector for about an hour
before it happened.
The aerial attack occurred during
a morning of severe fighting near
japanese marine headquarters in
the Hongkew district, some three
miles distant. The engagement was
marked by occasional bursts OF ar
tillery fire, but was chiefly out
bursts of machine cunning.
Except for occasional sniping, the
Woosung fort down the river was
ominously clam. Troops behind the
lines were active, however, prepar-
ing for an expected "big push" Ad-
ditional japanese troops were re-
ported en- route.
Snipe at Warships
Chinese troops in Nantao, outside
the French conclusion and clear
across town from Chapel, began
sniping at Japanese warships in the
Whangpoo river, of the Nantao sec
tor bund. The Chinese used only
rifles. The japanese refrained from
returning the fire.
Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura, in
command, not desiring to aggravate
the situation, ordered the two de-
stroyers down river. They anchored
of Yangtze-poo.
All foreign warships in port
dressed ship" in honor Of "Kigen-
setsu," the japanese national holi-
day celebrating the anniversary of
the founding of their empire by
Jimmu Tennu, first emperor and, in
the legend, direct descendant Of the