Evening star., 1939-06-22
More Warships
AT Swallow, U. 5.
Reply 10 Japan
Fleet Will Remain,
>YurneII Answers
To Warning
By the Associated Press.

DS tIle hSnoCldteu TTcSS.
SHANGHAI, June 22.-TWo Amer
lean and two British destroyers
stood by in Swatow Harbor late to-
day despite Japanese order or sug-
gestion that foreign warships and
nationals withdraw from that newly
captured South China port.
Foreign naval forces were dou-
bled during the day and except for
the departure of 20 British women
and children, the American and
British communities stood pat.
Some 48 Americans are at Swatow.
rich South China port, which had
transhipped millions of dollars worth
Of war materials to Chinese forces
before the Japanese occupied it
yesterday.
japanese and Occidental accounts
differed as to the nature of the
Japanese communication. British
naval quarters said foreign ships had
been ordered" to leave Swatow
Harbor by l pm. midnight We'd
nesday, Eastern standard time). A
Japanese naval spokesman in
Shanghai said only "the usual warn
ing" had been given foreigners to
leave a zone of possible hostilities.
Communication Rejected.
Reliable informants agreed that
Admiral Harry E. Yarnell, COM
mander- -in-chief of the United
States Asiatic Fleet, and British ma
val authorities had rejected the Jap
anese communication, whatever it's
exact nature. Admiral Yarnell, on
his flagship, the cruiser Augusta, was
at Chinwangtao. North China.
In rejection of japanese demands.
Admiral Yarnell was said to have
notified Admiral Koshiro OikaWa,
commander of Japan's third feet in
Chinese waters. that the duty of the
United States Navy was to protect
American lives and property and
that 1t would execute its mission, re-
naming as long as American citi-
zens are in need Of protection or
assistance.
In Washington the Navy De-
partment disclosed that Admiral
Yarnell had told the japanese
that American warships would
try to avoid interference with
japanese operations so far as
was consistent with the duty of
looking after United States in
terests, and added:
1.-The commander in chief cam
not accept the statement that the
japanese authorities cannot take
any responsibility for damages
incurred If vessels tare) not
withdrawn. 1t is not considered
that this warning relieves the
Japanese authorities in the
slightest degree of responsibility
for damage or injury to United
States naval vessels or person.
nelD
The United States destroyer Pills
bury, which remained during yes
terday's Japanese occupation to pro-
tect 40 Americans at Swatow, still
was in the inner harbor and was
Joined today by the destroyer Pope.
The British destroyer Scout also
arrived and anchored in the outer
harbor, supporting another British
destroyer, the Thanet. which shared
yesterdays watch with the Pillsbury
Patrol Chief Arrives.
The Pope brought Capt. John T.
G. Stapler, commander of the
United States Navy's South Sea pa
troll, who had been watching the
situation at another Japanese-Oc-
cidental friction point. Annoy, where
the japanese Navy is blockading the
International Settlement of Ku-
langsu.
The United States coastal gunboat
Asheville is to leave Hong Kong
for Swatow tomorrow. The Pills
bury was expected to be held in
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