Evening star., 1939-08-07
Ship Sinkingso>, (. !,
Premeditated,
British Charge
Strong Protest Is
Made to japan
On Attacks
Ey the Associated Press.


cused the Japanese today of max
ing premeditated attack on
British interests in air raids yes
terday at Ichang in which two
British river steamers were de-
stroyed with the death of four
crewmen and injury Of five and
property of the Asiatic Petroleum
Co. was damaged
All the victims were Chinese eX-
cept H. j. Denyer, a Canadian,
who was reported in a grave condi-
ton from bomb fragment injuries.
There were two separate attacks
Ichang is more than 1000 miles
up the Yangtze River from Shang-
hal.
A strong British protest was
lodged with Admiral Koshiro DIX
ava, commander of the Japanese
naval forces in China waters, who
said he was referring it to army
authorities because mo navy planes
attacked Ichang yesterday"
A japanese army spokesman said
I'VE have no information. If it
happened, it is a regrettable mis-
take"
Sumner Welles, undersecretary
OF State, said today American
representatives in China had pro-
tested to japanese against the
bombing of the Lutheran United
Mission at Kioshan.
CThe mission was bombed july
26 and representations were made
shortly thereafter by the Amer
ican consulate at Peiping. Fol-
lowing receipt of further infor-
nation, the American consulate
at Hankow emphasized the pro-
test already made.)
Haimen Port to Be Closed.
Furthering their drive to blockade
the China coast, japanese naval
authorities announced they would
close at IL am. tomorrow the
port OF Haimen, in Chekiang prov
lnce. ESQ miles south of Shanghai
Foreign consuls here were notified
and requested that their shipping
and nationals withdraw from the
port and vicinity which, the warn
ing said, "Is destined to become an
area of hostilities."
Japanese said they were planting
mines and other dangerous objects"
In Haimen waters and disclaimed
any responsibility for damage that
may be suffered by third-power ma
tlonals or property in future oper-
ations.
Consuls reserved comment but in
dicated their attitude was the same
as on similar notifications in the
past-that they would hold the jap
anese responsible for any harm to
foreign lives and property.
It was not believed there was any
foreign shipping in the port now and
no missionaries of any nationality
were listed as stationed there.
Planes Dived at Oil Plant.
British naval reports from the
gunboat Gannet, whose officers wit
messed the Ichang attacks, said the
raiders, II planes in all, appeared
not to be concerned with any OBJ
jective, but the anchorage of British
ships just below Ichang and nearby
water front property of the Asiatic
Petroleum Co.
These reports said the planes
dived at the oil plant and the an
chored ships, which included 1S
lighters, a floating dock and two
tugs, with seeming undeniable in
tent to destroy this foreign prop
erty"
Officials asserted that all the prop
critics were marked clearly with
British flags.
Standard Oil Co. property in the
vicinity was not struck.
Meanwhile an anti-French cam
paign in Tientsln and conflscation
of British missions, hospitals and
schools in HOnan Province were pre-
dicted by the japanese press
The japanese blockade of British
and French concessions at Tientsin,
after SO days, was reported to have
cut off virtually all meat and fish
from the British zone. Chinese
feared to carry their goods through
the frightened Japanese lines.
Tientsin newspapers said inclu-
sion of the French in the "Asia-for-
Asiatics" campaign against foreign
ers-already expanded in North
China to cover both Britons and
Americans - might result from
French silence regarding the Gen.
trail Chinese governments silver re-
serves held in Chinese banks in the
French concession.
Toxic Talk Begged Down.
A japanese demand for surrender
of similar funds held by banks in the
adjoining British concession is one
of the points which apparently has
begged down the British-Japanese
conference at Toxic.
The Japanese controlled news
papers also reported the anti
British Committee of Honan Prov
ince" was planning to take over
British mission, hospital and school
properties at Kaifeng and other
Honan cities. The properties had
been abandoned under threat.
The French concession at Tientsin
(see CHINA, Page A-4D