Evening star., 1937-12-25


American gunboat Panay:
/. That on December II. 1887, the
U. S. S. Panay, a unit Of the Yangtze
patrol of the United States Asiatic
Fleet, was operating under lawful
orders on the Yangtze River.
2. That the immediate mission OF
the U. S. S. Panay was 10 protect
nationals. maintain communication
between the United States Embassy,
Marking, and Office of the Ambassador
at Hankow, provide temporary ofice
for the United States Embassy stafI
during the time when Marking was
greatly endangered by military opera
tions and to afford refuge for Amer
ican and other foreign nationals.
3. That due to intensive shell fire
around Marking the U. S. S. Panay
had changed berth several times to
avoid being hit, and on the morning
of December IL, 1887, formed a convoy
Of Socony Vacuum Oil Co. vessels,
principally the steamship Meiping,
Meihsia and Meian, and proceeded up
river.
4. That adequate steps were taken
at all times to assure that the jap
anese authorities were informed OF
the movements of the U. S. S. Panay
5. That in addition to her regular
complement, the U. S. S. Panay had
on board at this time four members
of the American Embassy staff. four
American nationals and five foreign
| nationals.
6. That at $40 am, while stand
ing up-river, the U. S. S. Panay
stopped in response to signal from
japanese landing boat, Japanese
Army boarding officer with guard
went on board and was informed that
the U. S. S. Panay and convoy were
proceeding to anchorage % miles
above Marking; no warning was given
of any danger likely to be encountered
| I. That at about II am. December
! II. 1887. the U. S. S. Panay and
convoy anchored in the Yangtze River
in compact group at about mileage
, 22l above Woosung, % miles above
Marking
8. That the U. S. S. Panay was
painted white. with buff upper works
and stacks, and displayed two large
horizontal flags on her upper deck
awnings plus large colors at her gaff.
9. That the Socony Vacuum ships
Meiping, Meishia and Meian each
displayed numerous horizontal and
vertical American flags, all of large
size
10. That at l:30 the crew of the
U. S. S. Panay were engaged in nor
NAL Sunday routine and were all on
board except visiting party Of eight
men on board the steamship Meiping
ii. That at about :3s pm. three
large japanese twln-motored planes
in a wee formation were observed at
considerable height passing over
head down river. At this time nc
other craft we're in the near vicinity
of the Panay and convoy and there
was no reason to believe the ships
were in dangerous area.
IL. That without warning these
three Japanese planes released several
bombs. one or two of which struck on
or very close to the bow of the U. S. S.
Panay, and another which struck on
or very close to the S. S. Meiping.
l3. That the bombs Of the first at
tack did considerable damage to the
U. S. S. Panay, disabling the forward
3-inch gun, seriously injuring the
captain and others. wrecking the pilot
house and sick bay. disabling the
radio equll nent and the steaming
fireroom so that all power was lost,
and causing leaks in the hull, which
resulted in the ship settling down by
the head and listing to starboard,
thereby contributing Fundamentally
to the sinking of the ship.
a. That Immediately thereafter q
group of six single-engined planes
attacked from ahead, diving singly
and appearing to concentrate on the
U. S. S. Panay. A total of about
20 bombs were dropped. many striking
close aboard and creating by frag-
ments and conclusions great damage
to the ship and personnel. These
attacks lasted about 20 minutes, dur
ing which time at least two Of the
planes attacked also with machine
guns: one machine gun attack was
directed against a ships boat bear
ing wounded ashore, causing several
further wounds and piercing the boa'
with bullets.
Is. That during the entire attack
the weather was clear. with high visi-
bility and little, if any, wind.
16. That the planes participating
in the attacks on the U. S. S. Pana;
and it's convoy were umistakingly
identified by their markings as being
japanese.
II. That Immediately after the first
bomb struck air defense stations were
manned and the 30-caliber machine
gun battery opened fire and engaged
the attacking planes throughout the
remainder of the attack. The 3-inch
battery was not manned nor were
any 3-inch shells fired at any time.
This was in accordance with the
ships air defense bill.
18. That during the bombing many
were injured by flying fragments and
conclusion and all suffered shock on
the first bomb. The captain suffered
broken hip and severe shock; soon
thereafter 1t. Anders, executive on
Ger, was wounded by fragments in
throat and hands. losing power o1
speech; 1t. q. g. Giest, engineer ON
Ger, received fragments in the legs;
Ensign Diverse had clothing blown
of and was severely shocked. This
included all the line officers of thu
ship. The captain being disabled. thu
executive officer carried on his duties
giving orders in writing. He issued
instructions to get under way and to
beach the ship. Extensive damage
prevented getting under way.
10. That at about pm, believing
it impossible to save the ship and con-
sidering the number of wounded and
the length Of time necessary to trans.
| fer them ashore In two small boats
the captain ordered the ship to be
abandoned. This was completed by
about n m nv this tjroe the ~ a II,