Washington, Mar. 25.
The State Department to-day appeared embarrassed by President Roosevelt's statement but officials refused to comment.
Embarrassment of the State Department was believed to arise in the fact-that Italy was one of the nations invited to take part in the establishment of the international committee. Observers pointed out as significant that the President's statement was made in answer to a query by a newspaper correspondent and not on his own initiative—
United Press. destroyed on the ground by Japanese bombs. Japanese reports termed the fight as one of the largest of the entire war.
Chinese reports also claimed that Chinese planes bombed the Tsiaotso railway station, destroying a train believed to have been carrying Tonnere officers, Japanese transport trucks also were said to have been attacked by Cninese planes and a large number of Japanese troops killed.—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.