Regrets for the incident in the Hungjao area, on Sunday, when two German residents were attacked by Japanese soldier were expressed by the Japanese -authorities to the German consulate yesterday morning. E after 10 o'clock, Mr. S. Okamoto, Japanese Consul-General, and Major T. Hongo, staff officer attached to the headquarters of the Japanese. Expeditionary Force in Central China, called on Mr, M.|° her, German Consul-General.
They conveyed the regrets of the Japanese authorities for the incident /and assured him that the "necessary ps" would: be taken immediately upon completion of the investigation.
Yesterday morning, the Japanese authorities announced that they had launched an investigation into the incident, which ended in the wounding of Dr. E. Birt, superintendent of the Paulun Hospital and in the course of which the Japanese soldier (tried to push Mr. Tiefenbacher's jony into the creek, without success.
"The versions of the incident given those involved, said the Japanese spokesman yesterday, showed a certain degree of discrepancy and this "would have to be adjusted. Asked whet these discrepancies might be, the spokesman pointed out that the "two Germans said that the man wielded a dagger, whereas the information in the hands of the Japanese authorities so far indicated that a bayonet was used.
Identified as Cook According to the investigations so the Japanese had, been identified "as a cook attached to the Army "Supply Corps, and the spokesman admitted that it was conceivable that cook would carry a large knife or cleaver.
Upon completion of the investiga-"tion, concluded the spokesman, the "necessary steps" would be taken against the Japanese, whose name has of-been-made public, The Japanese authorities would also offer to indemnity the victims.
According to information secured by the "North-China Daily News, Dr. Birt and Mr. Tiefenbacher were riding in the Hungjao district on Sunday morning and were shouted at by Japanese soldier just as they, were about to cross a wooden bridge. They stopped, and the Japanese, who is said to have been very drunk at the "time, came up and without provoca-"tion, hit Dr. Birt with his clenched "fist, in which he was holding a drawn dagger or bayonet; at the same time, "he shouted "English pi Dr. Birt's left eye was badly injured, and he is expected to be con-"fined to his home for several days. After hitting Dr. Birt, the Japanese tried to push Mr, Tiefenbacher's horse into the creek. With the help of a couple of Chinese constables in the employ of the Ta Tao City Government, the two Germans were eventually able to ride away without suffering further harm.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.