"And what is worse, the extreme cases in which the Chinese have constructed such defences in the im diate vicinity of property belonging to nationalls of third Powers are being found in increasing numbers.
"In such circumstances, our air units have had no choice but to carry out their recent raids at higher altitude than before, with the inevitable result that some civilian casualties and damage to dwellings and ructures in close proximity to objectives have occurred.
ne at all conversant with the effects of modern weapons will at once realize the- inevitability of such losses—and Shanghais own exper ences are an evidence of that fact.
"While great care will continue to be exercised to secure the maximum degree of accuracy in the marksmanship of our air forces, it is at the same time our intention to carry out air raids with even greater vigour so as to bring the Chinese authorities to-realize the futility of their present attitude, and in order that the hostilities, of which these air bombardments are a concomitant part, may be brought to a termination as speedily as possible.
"It is therefore the desire of the Japanese naval authorities that the citizens of third Powers resident in those cities; will not only themselves avoid the areas in which China's anti-air defences are located, but also advise the ignorant Chinese to seek shelter away from such dangeit zones."
Rear-Admiral Nomura denied on the basis of an official investigation that Japanese aircraft raiding Canton. had used their machine-guns on relief workers and others. E
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.