Should third-party vessels be again permitted to ply the Yangtze, he continued, "there is no telling when a mishap of one sort or an= other might befall such ships," Drifting mines loosed by the Chinese, the presence of guerillas and Chinese troop remnants on both banks of the river, and the removal of all navigation marks were cited 1 potential sources of danger.
The spokesman referred to a recent case in Kiukiang where mines exploded near the U.S.S. Monocacy, This was represented by the Chinese as having been the result of deliberate action by- the Japanese.
The repetition of such a case vould be "unbearable" for the Japanese naval authorities, who were consequently taking "every possible precaution," he asserted.
"Definite information" regarding. several cases where foreign -vessels had supplied Chinese guerillas. with ammunition and arms had been obtained by the Japanese Government, the spokesman further claimed. Such intelligence, he said, was obtained from pro-Japanese Chinese who submitted highly reliable information voluntarily.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.