B. O. Scott Memorials A. W. Horton the very fact that they were without escort or any protective symbol except the Union Jacks on their radiators proclaimed their non-military significance. This tragic episode which has brought Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen perilously near to death's door exemplifies a sad disregard of convention. Had the occupants of the attacked cars been of less importance, the profuse apologies which were properly and promptly tended by Japanese authority might have been less readily forthcoming. Study of the long casualty lists which, in the last few days, have horrified the world in its sympathy with Shanghai's travail, shows an appalling number of civilian victims of recklessness on both sides. In that record deaths from wounds inflicted by Japanese anti-aircraft shrapnel have been conspicuous although, of course, nothing like as. numerous as the deaths: from Chinese bombs. maintains pan. there is no state of war' here. It is unfortunate, perhaps, that: a realist view of the accuracy of that contention and, perhaps, a livelier distrust of the mentality of Japanese airmen, did not induce the British authorities to advi: the Japanese Command That, however, gives no colour, to the suggestion that Sir Hughe and his staff had no right to be travelling hither on their diplomatic occasions. Japan's airmen are not thus relieved of the onus of assuring themselves that the objects of their attack ale properly selected. The pilots of the offending aeroplanes could not be expected to distinguish the Union Jacks on the ambassadorial cars, but flying low as they did, they should have perceived that, to outward appearances at all events, for the reasons already given, the travellers were civilians—and foreigners at that. They were under no such pains. Having received orders, apparently, to attack all motor transport on that stretch of road—it is surmised that some report had been circulated of a high Chinese military officer's intention to travel along it—one aeroplane machinegunned the cars and seriously wounded the Ambassador; the other attempted to complete the task by bombing, fortunately without This egregious act of frightfulness seems to have been performed in_ blissful
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.