"ft is the statement of the commander of this small unit that three shells passed over his head while the Panay was. firing at the aeroplane. He says that the sound of three shells, Jot what appeared to be shells, was heard overhead. There were no shell Jexplosions in the vicinity, however, Jand the commander of the larger unit, which had remained behind, was rot aware of any shell explosions at the time.
"Personally, 1 do not believe that the shells flew overhead, 1 believe the impression of the commanding, Joficer of the sinaller unit. was me Asked whether or not any machineguns Wad been turned on the USS. Panay by Japanese units, the Colonel Firing "Impossible"
"I investigated that point in_parti-Jcular, and 1 can state here that Tam Jeonvinced that there was" no fung Jand under the existing situation it was impossible that any firing could have occurred against the Panay."
His reasons, he said, were as!
"Japanese soldiers on the spot had already treated several of the wounded. Jon the Standard-Oil vessels and was done at the instruction of. the Jeommander of the larger unit and an officer was at the time considering whether or not he should escort these two vessels to Nanking, inasmuch the vessels were still seaworthy.
"The soldiers and officers were on-joying cigarettes and candy which had "been given to them by the [Americans who had been treated by {the soldiers. It was at this time that the third and last bomt'ng occurred jand the wounded were again treated by the Japanese and two launches
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.