MACHINE-GUNNED FROM THE AIR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 17, 13 October 1937, Page 5

MACHINE-GUNNED FROM THE AIR

-United Press Association

Diplomatic Party Escapes Injury FLAGS PROMINENTLY-DISPLAYED

By Electric Telegraph—

— Copyright.

(Received 13, 10.5 a.pi.) SHANGHAI, Oct. 12. Six planes, allegedly Japanese, attacked and machine-gunned three British motor-ears en route from Nanking to Shanghai .16 miles from Shanghai. The oecupants, including the assistantAir Atttache, Mr. S. Murray, alighted at the side of the road. There were no casualties. The cars carried Union Jacks and were easily identifiable. A member of the British Embassy party, Mr. Braham, when interviewed, said that the Union Jack was conspicuously painted on the cars, but this did not deter the attackers. A bullet smashed a window of one car. The B-itish authorities informed the Japanese, who issued a communique declaring that they were not notified that British cars .were travelling to Shanghai. The Japanese authorities later stated that they had received a preliminary report showing that the planes concerned were unable to see the markings on the cars, which they supposed to 1m occupied by bigh Chinese officers. The Chinese are constructing elaborate fortifications in the region of Minghong, where the incident occurred; consequentLv they are receiving special attention from Japanese bombers. The British Consul-General has completed a preliminary investigation. He learned that the British Embassy at Nanking notified the Japanese Embassy in advance of the intention to send cars to Shanghai.

'Later: It is now understood .tkat tke Britisk cars, owing to a misunderstanding, followed a route different from tkat indicated to tke Japanese. Accordingly tke Britisk remonstrance will be couche.d in mild terms. Tke Japanese also declare tkat tke British. nsed two cars instead of three, as notified, but according to Mr Brakam liis car was nearly a mile akead of Mr Murray 's wken six Japanese warplanes. swooped down from 300 feet. Tke motorists kurriedly alighted and rushed into tke fields at tke (side of tke road. Tke Japanese fired for six or seven

minutes. between kis and Mr Murray 's cars. Mr Murray, on seeing tke planes sweep menacingly overkead, descendcd and skowed tkat ke was a foreigner, but tke firing continued. Presumably tke remainder of tke convoy was delayed to pick up M. Skakov, a memker of tke Eussian Embassy^ and kis woman secretary, wkose car kad broken down. Tke Japanese claim that tkey stopped firing wken tkey saw Uni.on Jacks waved. Tke Japanese machine-gunned a Eussian car going out to bring in M. Skakov 's car.