BOMBING EXPLAINED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 179, 16 August 1937, Page 5

BOMBING EXPLAINED

— Presa Association.)

"Unavoidable Accident," States Nanking

(By Telegrapb

WELLINGTON, Tlm Day. Tlie Chinese Consul has received the fcllowing cable from the Nanking Gpvernment: "Referring to the dropping of several bombs from the Chinese aeroplanes at 3.40 a.m. on August 35 in the International Settlemeat and the ! French Concession at Shanghai which resulted in the death and wounding of a large number of iunoceiit people, a spokesmau of the military commaud said that it was a most deplorable incident which caused as much concern and regret to the Chinese authorities as to foreign communities. Upon investigation it was found that the aeroplanes in question, while engaged in operations against Japanese warships and other military objects, were fired upon by Japanese anti-aircraft guns and, as a result, the pilots wero injured and their bomb racks were so damaged that the bombs released themselves, descending upon places which had never been intended as an objective of attack. "The self-releaso of tbe bombs was , thus an unavoidable accident, not only : without the slightest intention of the 1 aviators but really against their own i wish. "That innocent people should bcar ! the consequences of war in such au un- ■ ezpected mauner," remarked the .[speksmahi "h indeesl »egt x.egret-

table. It is all tlie uiorc regrettable when it is learned that most of tbose killed and wounded by 'tho Chiuese wcapons of war are Chinese and that those few foreigners who, unfortuuateJy, shared the same fate, had been friends of China. "Renewed orders have been given to the fighting forces to avoid hostilities as far as possible in that part of the International Settlement of Shanghai which is not being used by the Japanese as a buse of operations and in the whole of the French Concession and it is to be hoped that cases of an extraordinary nature, involving the loss of many innocent lives but beyond the control of the Chinese combatants, iniglit not oecur again." The Chinese Consul has received another cablegram from Nanking relating to the fighting at Shanghai, stating that tlie Chinese forces made advances both in the Chapei and Yangtse Poo sectors and practieally encircled the Japanese naval headquarters at the end of North Szechuen road. At Yangtse Poo, where the Japanese landing grourtd is situated, the Chinese closed in on the Japanese line. The Kungta cotton mill which served as headquarters for the. Japanese oiiicers WA3 occupied by the Chinese at 10.30 a.m. Fighting is expected to devclop with further mtensity this evening. The International Settlement authorities adviscd foreigners to move out from tlie areas nortliward of Soochow Creek. "Ecports agree that the Japanese will makc extensive use of their aircraft and avo «xpected to bombard Chinese citie-s along the Nanking-Shanghai and Slianghai-Hangchcw railways. Japanese planes bombed the Weiting railway station between Soochow and Quinsan this morning but damage is believed lo be iuimaterial. "