Being "part and parcel" of the Japanese Expeditionary Force in China and "consequenty exposed to attack by Chinese in all sorts of ways," the Japanese Special 7 aval Landing Party in Shanghai feels that it should take "self-defensive measures within the Settlement similar to those taken by troops in occupied areas."
This declaration was made by a Japanese Embassy spokesman yesterday morning in reply to questions regarding the status of the Landing Party as a defence force of the International Settlement, in the light of regulations against acts against the Japanese forces issued on Sunday by Vice-Admiral Kiyoshi Hasegawa, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese China Sea Fleet.
¿The Landing Party is a component part of the Japanese forces now engaged in hostilities with Chinese troops," the spokesman stated. "Consequently, it must take similar steps for self-preservation as do other Japanese units."
The Japanese authorities do not deny the jurisdiction of the Shanghat Municipal Council in the Settlement area within the Japanese defence Sector, the spokesman emphasized.
Right "Forfeited"
"The Shanghai Municipal Council, however, forfeited for! a time its rights of administration over the eastern Settlement area when the Shanghai Municipal Police took to its heels on orders from their Superiors on August 17," the spokesman pointed out.
"As a consequence, the Japanese Naval Landing. Party temporarily had to assume the authority that normally was that of the police," he added.
This authority, the spokesman continued, was now being gradually restored to the police.
Questioned regarding the status of the Japanese members of the Shanghai Municipal Police who remained ju the eastern area following the orders to withdraw, the spokesman stated that these had remained there "voluntarily as individuals.
The presence of the police was deemed by the Japanese authorities as necessary at that time to maintain "law and order behind the lines:
The warders of the Ward Road gaol, the spokesman said, could nod be regarded in the same category as they were not engaged in police duties,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.