The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-24
CUNBOAT OAHU
 LEAVES MONDAY
tcontinucd from Page D

Tho oahu came to Shanghai with survivors of tho Panay sinking. At the time Q Japanese spokesman in- timated that if foreign nations wanted to keep their ships safe, they had better keep them out of the Nanking zone. But after Admiral Yarnell retorted that the Oahu would return in duo course, the inc timation was withdrawn.
 British Boat in Danger
 Az the order for the Aahu's sail. ing was Issued today, c japanose navy spokesman announced that the British cruiser Capctown which ar- rived at tho mouth Of the Yangtse near Shanghai with Americans and other foreign refugees had had 6 most dangerous voyage due to float" Ing and fnoored mines.
 He added that the Japanese ad" vised foreign shipping to shun the Yangtse because t was necessary for mine gweeperS to precede each convoy of ships. He expressed hope that foreign ship masters would destroy mines when they saw them.
 It is through this mine BtreWn river that the Oahu Is to steam. with the additional danger that Jap- anegc or Chinese might attack it by mistake for afi enemy ship. Chinese in Panic
 Dispatches from TBingtao, up the coast, reported c minor panic among Chinese residents today ct Q Tes port that Japanese troops had crossS cd the Yellow river near Esina1fu, 200 miles to the west. That this fear might prove real was shown when the Domei (Japanesc News Agency, In 6 dispatch from Tielt. sin in the north, quoted c Japanese army spokesman aS announcing that the army had decided Ion drastic punitive action against Chinese van. dais who destroyed Japanese prop erty M Shantung province" This would mean specifically against Tsingtao, where $i00,000,000 worth Of Japanese mills were burned. The dispatch quoted the army SpokeS. man as saying that Japan reserved the right to demand indemnificatiofl for loss and was prepared to exacl guarantees that Japanege property would not Dc Fnolcsted i1 future.
 The Esingtao dispatches said that the last train for the west left thif afternoon as rolling stock was being withdrawn. Chinese authorities wcfr seeking authentic information ci Japancge troop movements, it WaA said.
 Some Foreigners Leave
 Forty foreigners, mostly women and children, left by steamship for Shanghai today. the dispatches said bust most foreigners remained in the city.
 The Domei agency reported thai after night-long forced march through mountain paths, Japanese units ct noon today occupied the highlands west Of Hangchow, the important city south of Shanghai which Is the immediate Japaness objective. Japanese troops now were within sight of the city, the agency said.
 It was reported on excellent au. thority that Col. Shingor0 Hashi. motO, alleged 70 be responsible fol the machine gunning of the glnboal Panay by Japanese troops, was a' the HangchoW front. Americans ar. irving from Wuhu had reported that Hashimoto had been relieved Of hii command of the Yangtse river pa trol in the Wuhu- Ranking area.
 Today's information was that hl had been sent to command g unit including batteries of mountain guns, in the most rugged and dif. ficuit area of the Hangchow front This is the usual course in the Jap. anese army when an ofiicer is to b' l disciplined.
 Reports from Tokio to usual re. liable quarters were that the Jap. anese answer to American protests against the Panay attack would seel to pin all tine blame on the nav planes and hold the army biameless Nevertheless authoritative oplnloI here is that the army ordered in discriminate bombing of Yangts' chipping a little time before thu Panay attack.
 British authorities at Hong KonG investigated reports today from DO | lice that IS Japanese airnlanes flew over British territory west of Honi Kong at 0:30 c. m. today. a'-- -ent ly returning from q raid un Chinesl territory.
 | preferential shop fc- editorial em s.a,.,m. m..4 ats mmrnnrnnstt kn fflni