Questioned at yesterday's press conference, whether the British na authorities' had notified the situation various men-of-war, the naval spokesman replied that they had at Hankow, but "in connection with the present incident, there are certain circumstances which prevent me from aking a reply now."
He added that no further data was available at the moment, but said that the matter had been referred to responsible Japanese authorities—there had been no replies Asked whether the British protest had stated that the bombing had been deliberate, he stated that from the wording, such might have been the case.
There was no confirmation that the bombing had been carried on by Japanese naval planes, but steps had licen taken to prevent a recurrence. In reply to another question he stated that they had no knowledge if H.MS, Senapiper had opened fire on' the In conclusion he pointed out that junks, flying the lag of a Third Power, hiad opened fire on planes ever the Yangtze, but, respecting the flog, Japanese aviators had not shot At mor bombed them. Junks crossing, the Yangtze along "the foreign anchorage at. Hankow were seen, transporting Chinese troops, but these too had been left alone,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.