Close on the heels of the consular warning, Capt. Hisaharu Kubota, the 'Japanese Resident Naval Omer, this afternoon informed Mr. Billiard' that, "unless the Chinese Customs authorities reconsidered their present policy and ceased their unlawful attacks upon Japanese ships, the Imperial Navy would take firm and appropriate measures for the protection of Japanese lives and property on the high eas."
a statement made public before his interview, Capt. Kubota recalled that 'Chinese' Customs officials had been previously warned against "irresponsible and unlawful acts." in 'a formal notification following cases of a similar nature in the vicinity of Amoy. "When cases of that character were reported to have occurred in the Gulf of Pechihli, the Commander of the Port Arthur' Naval Station, who Is responsible for the policing of that area; issued a stern warning to the Tientsin Commissioner of Customs, on April 10. The commis sioner, in his reply, assured that his subordinates had been duly notifed, said Capt. Kubota, the case of the Daiei Maru, the violence of the Customs vessel exceeded all bounds, No-matter- what explanations. are put forth, there is no denying that on appalling lack of discipline was exhibited by the vessel's crew when Ignored the various explicit _re-sullens which "cover Bring on int to Piracy "without even verifying their suspicion that the eight-ton boat, which had no means of defence, and which, moreover, was fying the Japanese flag, was engaged in smuggling, the Customs ofoers opened fire without exhibiting any flags or insignia that their ship was Customs preventive vessel. As a result, they not only inflicted injuries on the defenceless crow, but fired upon the Japanese flag, which commands the respect - of all Japanese. Their brutal action can truly described as tantamount to piracy fand must be regarded as deliberately "This cannot be ignored by our military forces which have been a5~ signed to police this area and to protect the lives and the property Of our residents, and especially by the Navy, which has charge of patrol~ Ung the' sea. Depending upon the attitude of the Chinese, the Imperial Navy will be constrained to take measures It considers appropriate, as set forth in' the aforementioned communication to the Customs Commissioner. The responsibility for any unpleasant situations that may arise as a result certainly will not be ours. However, It goes without saying that we shall deal with the question in an honourable and open manner."
'The Mocki Maru, @ small Japanese vessel, was fired upon by a Customs preventive cruiser on June 21, off Tsingtao, while she was adrift' in a dense fog. Four of the crew were wounded, Japanese consular officials here said the Customs officers tore the vessel's flag into shreds, finally throw. {ng it Into the sea. They also charged the cruiser, with using dum-dum bul-lent sin, June 24, Explanations regarding" tacks "by
Sapanese yesrels on the igh seas Drevenive cruisers upon dre asked this morning by Me, Teh Hn, Japanese Coneul here, during a nil on Mr Lin Shihetse, Superinten-ater made similar colton Me. 3D. Hillinrd, Customs Commissioner, "Japanese consular feels Reve sd that Me, Akiyosht afin, the new Gonsut-Genersl, will asie'the Tokyo Forelun Ome to make representations the Nanking Government regarding repeated tacks upon. Japanese vessels by Customs crulsbrs.
Int. Kishi informed the Commis: sioner that the Japanese Government Feyorded the ates on the Japanese Ships. as "completely Tack non-sense and as an ADU told Mr, Foreign Offee, but the Army and the Navy were intensely concerned in the matter and informed him that we understood destroyers already were Arthur. Kishi added that fon their way here from Port
horities regarded the "une ing basle reform, Bullets Through Flag Tientsin, June 24.
The Japanese consular authorities to-day pointed out that nine bullet Roles were found in the flag flown by the Jepanese vessel which was fred fon bya Customs preventive vessel fast Sunday, several miles from Chi-Kou, Col. ishii, the Japanese milltary spokesmen, suid yesterday, that {the Chikou incident was due to a misunderstanding. The Japanese vee~ gel had mistaken the Customs ship a pirate craft when halled, which resulted in the exchange of shots. The Customs authorities already had called on: the Japanese consular thorities and both parties were studying means to reach an amicable settlement with regard to Injuries tained by members of the Japanese vessel's crew and damage to the ship. Reuter.
The "North-China Herald" learned on good authority on June 24 that a Customs preventive cruiser did make a seizure of x Japanese vessel in the vicinity of Tsingtao on June 21, No-one was wounded, however: dum-dum bullets were not used; and, the report that Customs officers tore the fag into shreds could not be
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.