PANAY FILMS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 82, 30 December 1937, Page 7

PANAY FILMS

-Freag Aein.-

Victims Shown Falling on the Deck SCENES OF BRAVERY

(By Telegraph-

-Oopyrigbt.)

(Eeceived 30 10.30 a.m.) HOLLtwOOD, Dec. 28. The films of the Panay sinking were shown privately to a small audience. Japanese planes jvere invisible, nor, surprisingly, was there any sign of an American flag ilying over the gunboat, The preseuce of the planes, however, was signified by scenes of American sailors training maehine-guns on them as they Toared by. The fiist scenes were taken on the top decks of the Panay, and subsequent ones from navy launches going to the shore with isurvivors, and from the banks of the Yangtse. The film showed victims dropping on to the deck and civilians and seamen carryiug them under the ibck. There was no evidence of confusion. Several bombs were visible dropping near to launches going to the shore. A few survivors were seen swimming toward the shore. The final scenes taken from the bank showed the Panay settling under the water, but the flag was not visible. The cameraman, Norman Ailey^ said he witnessed Ihe Japanese patrol boats piachine-gun the launches from the Panay and in'sisted the flag was visible at tWfe mast until the Panay sank, It is pointed out that American claims regarding the flag are not affected, since the camera was located in a section of the boat where the flag could not be seen. The range from the shore was too long to reveal sueh a pmall object. Howeyer, a flag was visible in the stern of one of the oil tankers, The film ghowed that the weather was clear. There were many scenes of bravery under . fire, and those not wounded geemed more concerned about caring for the wounded than their own safety.