Evening star., 1937-12-18


By the Associated Press.
TOXIC, Dec. 18-The japanese
foreign Office disclosed today thai
United States Ambassador Joseph c
Grew had delivered second American
note in connection with the sinking
OF the gunboat Panay.
The nature of the new representa-.
tions was not made known, but they
were reliably understood to concern
reports that the Yangtze River patrol
ship had been machine-gunned by
Japanese launches before it sank
under the pounding of aerial bombs
last Sunday.
The note also was believed to have
carried strong protest against the
reported boarding Of the Panay by
Japanese officers before it went down
about 20 miles upriver from Marking
Estate Department officials in
Washington said the representa-
tions made by Mr.. Grew were
based on details of the bombing
as received from naval and diplo-
matte sources in China and re-
layed to him. The material sup
plemented the formal note sent
by the State Department to the
japanese government early this
week.
Offer TO Resign Reported.
Informed sources said that vice Ad-
miral Kiyoshi Hasegawa, commanding
Japanese naval forces in the war with
China, had assumed full RESPONSE
bility" for the Panay attack and had
offered to resign.
At the same time, the Japanese
Army officially entered the investiga-
ton. 1t. Col. Yoshiaki Nishi was said
to have left Toxic several days ago to
conduct an inquiry in China inde-
pendent of the navy's investigation.
The war Office insisted, however,
that Nishi had not been specially in
structed to investigate the report that
the Panay was machine-gunned after
1t was bombed by naval flyers.
Until now investigation OF the Panay
incident had been solely naval busi-
ness. 1t was considered most impor-
tant that the war Office had sent a
special officer to look into the situa-
ton.
Informed persons said Admiral
Hasegawa's preferred resignation had
been refused, but rumors persisted
that he had been or would be relieved
OF the China command and given an
other post.
Reply Being Prepared.
A foreign Office spokesman said the
government still was working to for
muate reply to the United States
original protest in the Panay Incl
dent, although it could not be ex-
pected for several days.
He had said previously that charges
OF the machine-gun attack would de-
lay the answer.
This is the most serious type O,
charge to make" he declared. Jus
tice to both sides demands a full in
vestigation and a thorough INQUIRY
cannot be made in a minute
Naval officers cited the testimony
OF a japanese Army surgeon who
treated Panay wounded in an effor,
TO disprove the charge Of the ma
chine-gun attack. He said he treated
foreigners and 13 Chinese wounded
In the attack and found all were in.
1ured by bomb fragments or splinter,
Of wood-not bullets.
Four men were killed in the on.
slaught against the Panay and three
Standard OIL vessels. On Tuesday the
United States delivered its first pro.
test.
The disclosure that the foreign Office
WIS working on reply altered state.
ment OF yesterday that it was mot
yet decided If direct response were
necessary. The foreign office spokes.
man had pointed out that Japan hac
apologized, offered indemnities ant
given assurance that measures hac
been taken to deal with those re.
sponsible for the Panay incident be.
fore the American demands were for.
mally presented.
A washington dispatch said detail.
Of the Japanese attack as received BY
the State Department from naval anc
diplomatic sources in China had beer
forwarded to Joseph G. Grew, Ameri-
can Ambassador to Toxic.
Hirota Reports on Panay.
Foreign Minister Koh Hirota made
. report on the Panay sinking to the
cabinet, which met in a tw-houl
extraordinary session at the premier's
official residence, with all minister,
present.
Hirota was understood to have. de.
scribed the reaction in the United
> (See TOXIC, Page A-13.)