Charges that Japanese naval planes deliberately bombed Chinese non-combatants were strongly denied last night by Rear-Admiral Tadao Honda, Naval Attache to Japanese Embassy.
Explaining' in detail the objectives ct Japanese aerial raids, the officer emphasized the Navy's determination to "spare at all costs" the lives and property of Chinese and foreign non-combatants. Strict precautions, he declared have been taken to keep the pilots informed of the exact location of their targets, and a noted jurist was employed to advise on issues involving questions of international law.
The objectives of aerial bombardment, Rear-Admiral Honda explained, were confined to troop concentrations, military works and establishments, military depots, munitions plants, means and agencies of transportation and communication used or adaptable to use for military purposes, and Government buildings having direct bearing on the conduct of war, stich as those used as centres for war propaganda.
Wil Not Adhere to Geneva Committee of 23
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.