The Bismarck tribune., 1937-12-20
AT VARIANCE
With STORIES TOLD
BY U. s. SURVIVORS
Military Attache Says Gunboat
Was Moving, Flags Were
Not Visible
NEW OFFENSIVE IMMINENT
3 American Warships at North
China Port; Japanese May
. Strike at Canton
NEW OFFENSIVE IMMINENT
lBy The Asssciated Pressl

/ 0et bN0 0S S0uIkVBv
(By The Associated Press)
The Japanese military attache Mon.
day issued report on the sinking Of
the United States gunboat Panay
which contradicted virtually every
statement previously made by Ameri-
can naval officers and British, Ita-
lian and American survivors.
The report by Major Gen. Kumaki-
chi Harada was "the sum total Of staff
officers investigation" OF the bomb
ing Of the Panay and three Standard
OF company vessels Dec. IL.
In conflict with the stories Of sur
vivors, Harada's statement:
H.. Denied that japanese army
boats had fired on the Panay Is II
was sinking.
2. Asserted the gunboat was NOV
ing at the time Of the incident when
officially it had been reported anchor
ed for more than two hours In the
Yangtze river q miles above Marking.
After the statement was completed,
Harada answered q barrage Of ques-
tions by reporters, who included three
eye-witnesses: Colin Macdonald, Lon
don Times; Weldon James, United
Press. and Luigi Barzini, italian CORE
spondent.
Statements 1t variance
Because the statement wAs at such
variance with previously reported &C.
counts, one Of the correspondents ask
ed whether the Japanese, the survivors
and the correspondents were discuss
ing the same incident.
General Harads earlier Monday had
expressed to Brig. Gen. John G. Beau
mont, commander Of American mar
ines at Shanghai, apologies and deep
regrets on behalf Of the Japanese
army.
(I1ae japanese foreign office spokess
man ct Tokyo reversed q previous
statement In which he had denied
categorically that the Panay had been
fired upon by japanese river vessels.l
Harada told questioners his inves-
tigatton still was In progress and 4
new report might be made II Tokyo
were dissatisfied with the first one.
Asked whether he believed any army
unit was at fault In any way, Harada
replied:
Says Distance Too Great
"The company commander does not
believe he was at fault"
Harada said the distance was too
great TO permit sighting American
flags on the Panay and the Standard
Oil vessels which also were bombed.
The war made 1t impossible, he ex-
planned, to have the officers and men
allegedly involved brought to shang-
hal for investigation.
Avowing that one Of the Panay,x
three-pounder guns was decommis-
stoned and that the others were under
canvas, survivors have claimed 1t
would have been impossible for them
to have fired at japanese troops
ashore.
The report also conflicted with .
japanese foreign office statement
from Tokyo and quoted by Domet
(Japanese) news agency to the effect
that Japanese army boats machine.
gunned the Panay by mistake.
Offensive Imminent
Meanwhile, an imminent Japanese
offensive In Chekiang and Anwhei,
rich central Chinese provinces, was
disclosed by General Iwane Matsui,
Japanese commander.
The pressure Of Japan's campaign,
however, was felt the whole length
Of coastal China from Tsingtao, Inn
portant northern SEAPORT, to Canton,
metropolis Of the south.
Three United States warships stood
BY ct Tsingtao to evacuate about 800
II necessary. A japanese
naval attack on the port, highly de-
veloped by japanese industry, was
feared because Of the destruction Of
rich japanese properties BY Chinese
troops there.
A japanese spokesman said he was
informed Chinese had destroyed all
Japanese cotton mills In TMnstao.
Their value was estimated at more
han 300.O00,000 yen (about $87,000..
)OO.
viii Resume Operations
General Matsui told Japanese news
,apermen In IN interview Japanese
;roops were resting briefly after ths
;apture Of Marking, capital OF repub.
ican China, but soon would resumA
major operations which would con-
inue until the Chinese government
.nded its resistance.
Heavy concentrations Of Japanes0
were reported along tho
province coast, presrm.
lbly indicating japanese plans 70
;trike at Canton.
I'm London, British newspapers re-
lected anxiety over the prospective
Japanese thrust into South China.
informed opinion expected Britain to
AXE strong defensive measures.)