Ventura Cal, Dec. 27.
Eight United States warships, believed to be destroyers, suddenly broke formation during secret manœuvres off the Ventura coast to-night and flooded the sky with searchlights.
Residents of thig city were unaware of the activity until they saw the lights, then the beach was crowded with hundreds who came to Yitness the unusual sight—United Press. to Be Issued To-day Tokyo, Dec. 28.
Contrary to general expectations, Japan's reply to the British Note on the Ladybird incident, which was handed to the British Ambassador, Sir Robert Craigie, by the Foreign Minister, Mr. Koki Hirota at 5.40 this afternoon, will not be published to-night, Publication, it is now believed, will be simultaneously made in London and Tokyo to-morrow.
The text of the reply was approved by the Cabinet this morning, after which Mr. Hirota, representing the Premier, Prince Konoye, who is indisposed, proceeded to the Palace and made a detailed report to the Throne regarding the incident and the Government's measures for an amicable settlement,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.