HIM, Ladybird was sheued by' Japanese batteries near "Wunu on Decemver. 12 in the belief that she was ule OF an escort lor a convuy carrying Churiese troops, a Jepanese Army spokesman said last-might jeusing tne pretuminary und.nys of new investigation into the indigent, 'The latter, the offelal said, occurred early in tne morning when' tne river was shrouded ina. thick 10g. All distant ouects, he added, were scarcely discernible, 4 ship at the head of the convoy, 4 Japanese elficer at Wuhu reported, amitied smoke nien reembied 2 smoke screen. In" the Dent tnat te convey could be usee only 205 the transportation of troops, the elficer in charge ordered ire to be Jevenedt on tue shrips.
The spokesman refused to answer Jquesuons regacaing aeiails of tae sueioent, on tne ground that reports were still imeoinpiete, A full report yas promised by the vineial not later than to-night, he spokesman also promised to mnvestigwve wheter oF nut uruers te fare applied to vessels at anoner or 19 tne Sup 10 Jus and Wie alegen OF the vessel were Ungelaved, "Enis, "the oiheal 34.0, wieans \hat two diferent Army units were involved! he exchange of cards, he said, auuut twenty miles tron:
mere the stated war:
As a consequence of the Japan-carrying armed men a Red Cross flag, boats from H.M.S. Bee, which were also fying the Red Cross, were fired on by the Chinese troops on shore while approaching the bank in arden to up the survivors.
The Japanese spokesman, at yester~ cay morning's press conference, made statement with regard to the engagement close to where the survivors were waiting. A. message, he said, was picked up by the Japanese naval authorities from H.M.S, Bee on Tuesday night, to the effect that the British gunboat was again fired upon, At first, It was thought that the ding was being carried out by the Japanese, and was directed, against Chinese army units, Upon receiving the message, a Japanese naval offer, accompanied by British and American oticers, hurried to the spot, and it was found that the firing was actual-coming from the Chinese batteries.
In spite of the danger, the spokesman continued, everything possible was done to ald the survivors, and at 3 am, yesterday it was reported that forty' of them had "been put aboard the USS, Oahu, these me cluding those "wounded, and those who were unharmed. "A Japanese launch had been dispatched to the scene, carrying one surgeon to KINS, Bee, and two surgeons to the USS. Oahu, to give assistance to the wounded. "The spokesman referred reports that fighting was going on between Japanese and Chinese troops, which interfered with the rescue attempts, It was later ascertained, hho said, that a group of Japanese army surgeons who were hurrying to the spot by motor launch encountered a detachment of soldiers fen route, and were fired on by them, Explanations of the firing were given to the commanders of the British und; American gunboats. The spokesman did not state whether the "launch was carrying armed men, oF whether it had replied to the Chinese Are?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.