To the Raltor of the "Nonm-Ciuwa Dany News"
Sin—A number of your correspondents, during the last few days, have set forth opinions that the measures taken in Hongkew by the Japanese Naval Landing Party were unnecessary; that they "interfered with the administration of the Interhhatlonal Seitlement, and that they were not conducive to peace and order in the community.
While Tam not assuming to set forth the oficial Japanese view, per~ mit me. to present here what 2 believe 10 be the views held by most of my ce-nationals residing in the northern district.
1. From the viewpoint of the commander of the Special Naval Landing arly, he measures are reasonable and appropriate, It must forgotten that the force 1s here to protect Japanese residents. It is maintained by Japanese taxpayers for that specific purpose and the failure of the commander to, take all possible steps to prevent any Japanese, civi or otherwise, from being harmed would be regarded as criminal, here as well as Ju Japan, The murders of Warrant-OMcers Hideo Nakayama and Asamitsu Taminate on Settlement "roads have conclusively proven that unless the Shanghai Muntelpal Police Force, as eMicient as it is to-day, could' not prevent the recurrence of similar out rages unless Increased a thousandfold.
I the naval measures have created concern, the blame should be put on the circumstances that led the adoption of. these very measures. The. way in which three Japanese have lost thole lives at the hands of gunmen In Shanghai has been identical, They were all shot the back. I believe most of your Teaders will agree with me that ere {sno more unpleasant nery" feeling. than that of being threatened with sudden death. that tries you from behind. "(Not that being. stot in the face. fs pleasant), 'The fact that In time of war, snipers are summarily shot. upon. capture elvarly illustrates how' this constant fooling of lurking danger is regarded dangerous te an nrmy's morale, One of your correspondents "stated that "it if no fake to walk by sentries be passed. by sentries when
tigger Anger separates you from cient preanur. of one neb iernitye May T state that It is no {un either for" the sentry to. know {hat a second's delay in palling that {rigger may leod him to eternity.
"The old adage that an ounce of prevention is better than pound of Gore is Ue underlying factor in. the apanese military measures. Com. menting editorially on the steps taken by the Landing Party following. the Huning Road tragedy you stated. Ghat there seemed (0 be on "element of shutting the stable door after the forse has been stolen about the Japanese precautions" It we recall that Mr, Roraka Kayau was shot 10 death a: fow hours. afler a serious flevelopment hed taken place In the {tial of the now-convicted avers of
only natural for the Japanese naval Warrant Omer Nakayama, ft seems command to have strengthened prefsutlonary measures at a me when the same Judielal proceedings were reaching a climax.
The fact" that the series of slaying have established that' they were planned without specie motive against anyone in particular so long a3 te victims were Japanese naturally makes the adoption of extraordinary measures necessary. To. use the words of your correspondent it is no Joke to. wabe down the street when the' accidental pressure of one inch per gunman's trigger-fuger separates {You from. eternity. "Whether Tapanese are fustited In' feeling '30 for not is anottion matter, Allow Rowever, to quote here' a. statement made tome yesterday" by a Briton, whom I consider one of the best: Informed nen in Shanghai; "There will "be another shooting of a Japanese, But no-one knows when oF stra He eeg Lastly abou a photographers. The taking of phote-Graphs of a military position in Emergency. ie prohibited inmost countries. 'The present situation in Hongkew is an emergency in. every sense of the word, the Japanese Naval Landing' Party" ea-operating with Sepanese "and ther lowe enforcement agencies in a "war" against a hidden enemy.
Pictures of Japanese sentry posi-'Hons, printed in newspapers
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.