Evening star., 1937-12-20
10000 JAPANESE
OCCUPY|NCCH|NA
Military Observers Make
Estimate-Saito Calls
Panay Attack "BIunder."

Willie Americans were assured DS
the japanese Ambassador that theii
lives ard interests will be protected in
China, observers here today estimated
the strength of the Japanese Army OF
occupation at 100000, and at least
one Senator demanded that the United
States withdraw its military forces
from the war zone.
Japanese Ambassador Hirosi Saito's
address of assurance was unusual in
that it was delivered on a radio pro-
gram sponsored by cleaning fluid
company at time when the State
Department was expecting a formal
note from Japan guaranteeing the
safety of Americans and American
interests.
The Ambassador called the sinking
of the American gunboat Panay a
shocking blunder," and continued:
"Our authorities had, of course, NO
thought that such a blunder could
have occurred, and they were amazed
when the news of it came They are
doing their best to see that no repeti.
tion of similar incidents should oc-
cur
Necessary steps are being and will
be taken so that guarantees of safety
will in the future be assured all
foreign persons and interests"
Force in Four Sections.
Meanwhile. military observers said
that Japan now has more than 100000
soldiers in China and Manchukuo
On the basis Of unpublished dispatches
from the Far East, they split up the
total, approximately. as follows:
Manchukuo, 100000 to $50, 900. in
cluding 10000 in Kwantung Province
Peiping area, 100000 to 250,000.
Yangtze area. 25o,oo0 to 100000.
A smaller force in South China
around Canton.
Nine-tenths Of the total is composed
OF Japanese, they said, but there are
many Chinese in the Kwantung force
of 10000.
They expressed belief the huge force
Of 100000 to $4,000 was being kept
in Manchukuo to serve as warning
to Soviet Russia to keep quiet during
the Sino-Japanese hostilities.
Withdrawal Asked.
Senator Capper, Republican, OF
Kansas, declared last night the Gov
ernment should withdraw its Navy
and marines from the war zone as
rapidly as possible. If We persist in
maintaining forces to protect our
China trade, he said, inevitably
something will happen to force us
into war"
The Senator urget quick action on
. constitutional amendment to pro-
vide a national referendum on a dec
laration of war He added:
If Americans can remain sane, can
restrain their generous impulse to
rush to the assistance of those in dis
tress, can restrain their natural in
dignation, can avoid steps that lead
to war, there is a chance that we can
keep ourselves out of the maelstrom,
at least for a time" Capper said in
. broadcast address
He said few Americans believed "it
Is our destiny to try to settle affairs
in the Orient, nor that it is our duty
to police the world"
Heroism Awards Likely.
Discussing the sinking of the Panay,
naval officers thought it likely that
decorations for bravery will be rec
commended for number of officers
and men of the gunboat. Official dis
patches received by the Navy and
State Departments graphically de-
scribed the heroic parts played by the
gunboats personnel.
The process of recommending the
Awards and conferring them will be a
long, carefully studied one. In the
Navy Department this is so important
that one clerk, Mrs. NJ A. Crawford,
spends most of her time on it,
Three thousand dollars worth of
decorations are awarded each year in
five ategories-Medal of Honor, Dis
Service Medal, Navy Cross,
Flying Cross and a
variety of service and commemorative
medals.
There is a permanent Board of
Awards composed of two naval Off
GERS of the rank of rear admiral and
. general officer of the Marine Corps.
Recommendations. carefully sifted
by the department, come up to them.
These cover feats of bravery in saw
ing life or in the service of the United
States.