It is satisfactory to learn that the Japanese Consul-General has expressed his regret for what is described as an accident involving the machine-gunning of the party travelling in the cars of the British Embassy from Nanking. Mr. Suemasa Okamoto's prompt conveyance of this contrition to his British colleague, Mr. Herbert Phillips, acquires all the more significance because it is admitted that there is no divergence of view regarding the facts as outlined in the British Consul-General's plain, unvarnished statement, In other words the Japanese recognize that the motor cars travelled by the normal route from Sungkiang to Shanghai and the suggestion to the contrary contained in a precipitate pronouncement by an unnamed Japanese spokesman is not supported. It being freely admitted that the most unfortunate attack was the outcome of a mistake there is really little to be said. Once more is disclosed the importance of insisting that the onus lies on the airman to assure himself that he is aiming at a proper target, It would seem that the first Japanese aeroplane which dived and yet did not. fire at the cars was made aware of the T of the party for the Union Jack painted on the roof was clear enough. The second aeroplane following hard in the track of the first did not notice that its colleague had refrained from firing and, without troubling to verify the target, blazed off in the belief that it was merely endorsing action already taken. However that may be, there can be no doubt that the attack was thoroughly unjustified and Flight-Lieutenant S. S. Murray and his companions are to be congratulated on their alertness in taking cover from what would otherwise have been a murderous attack on them. They had a harrowing experience and an almost providential escape. One thought cannot be allowed to pass without mention. The use of the aeroplane for reconnaissance has been most effective in obtaining information of the movement of troops and topographical details with the utmost accuracy. It is not expected that airmen engaged in offensive as distinct from reconnoitring operations should be able to display the same attention to detail, Still they should not lack means for averting such errors as have again raised uncomfortable discussion between the Japanese end British Governments, No doubt Tokyo will make note of that point and advise the Japanese commands to ensure that pilots are better seized of the importance of using all available means at their disposal for identifying targets selected for attack, If this Minghong episode has brought that firmly home to the proper quarter it will have served a good purpose, especially as it was happily devoid of tragedy if the damage to the cars be left out of account. Full reports of the affair have, it is understood, been made to the Foreign Office in London and also to H: M. Charge d'Affaires at Nanking who will take such further steps in the matter as may be necessary, Meanwhile there remains the immediate problem of ensuring that no such dangerous incidents can recur, so that the motor-road from Nanking may be safe for non-combatants,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.