Japanese Knew Where American Convoy Intended to Anchor: Ships Were Plainly Marked Washington, Dec. 24. LANES taking part in the attack on the Panay convoy were unmistakeably identified as Japanese, according to the four-man Navy Board report, prepared under the leadership of Capt.
HI, U. McKittrick, issued by the Navy Department to-day.
Tae report confirmed that four persons died as the result of the bombing. Thirty-six distinct findings were listed.
Firstly it was found that the Japanese knew where the four ships planned to anchor; secondly, that the U.S.S. Panay and the tankers were clearly marked as American vessel: thirdly, the attack took place at mid-day in extremely clear weather; fourthly, the survivors were the target of machine-gun fire, According to the report, "adequate steps were taken at all times" to make sure the Japanese authorities were informed of the Panay's movements to the bombing.
"At 940 a.m., while standing upriver, the Panay halted in response to a signal from Japanese landing boats.
Japanese Army officer with a guard boarded and was informed the Panay convoy was proceeding to an anchorage 28 miles above Nanking," the report read.
"No warning was given \of any danger likely to be encountered," the. report added. After the bombing, boarding party opened fre with machine-gun and boarded the Panay for a few minutes. Shortly afterwards, the ship sank, the report said.
Observers expressed the opinion that the final reaction of President Roosevelt and the Secretary of Star 'Mr, Cordell Hull, will be- dictates partly by public' reaction in the Gnited States.
Voteran political authorities were inclined to believe a straight accept ance of the Japanese Note would probably not satisfy public opinion, which reacted not only to the Panay Incident but to a cumulative series fof events, the result of which has been the widespread impression that Japanese militarists were ruthless and Indifferent to the long-established United States rights in the Orient.—"United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.