As the question of how Mr. Bertram Lillie met his death on Monday night in Hongkew must of necessity be the subject of a indic ial inquiry it is not intended at this juncture to discuss the various versions of the matt which were current on the night of the cident, and yesterday. There are, quite obviously, an only be cleared points which up when those who were unfortunate to have been injured will be in a condition to giv? their evidence. It is impossible, however, to overlook what happened that night at the General Hospital, or to ignore the general ation which has thereby been aroused.
the ae dent, in which Mr. Lillie was d, had occurred, the other occupants of the car who were injured, Mrs. Lillie and Police Sergeant J. R. Wimsett were conveyed with all the speed possible to the General Hospital for attention. It appears that a Japanese sentry had also been hurt, he ha since died, and it is to be assumed] that the Japanese authorities commenced their investigations in an atmosphere dominated by indignation that one of their men had received harm. That and that alone can explain the truculence, and violence which was demonstrated by certain of the Japanese officials who sought to pursue their inquiries of those of the Injured who had been taken to the General Hospital. It appears that a number of Japanese went to the Hospital, with a display of military force, including, it is reported, two machine guns Jon motor cycles to dominate the entrance. on A number of off s and men entered the building and demanded to see the patients That was of course entirely out of the question. Both Mrs. Lillie and Sergeant Wimsett had had operating table, and to go on th neither of them were in a condition to be questioned. The doctors who refused to permit the Japanese to sce them were acting in the only way it was possible for them to do. The condition of both of the patients was such that to have subjected them questioning under such conditions might have serious effect upon them, particu ly of Mrs. Lillie who, added to the natural shock of such an occurrence, had the further distressing knowledge that husband had died at her side.
In the case of Sergeant Wimsett he was on the table in the accident ward, only three parts conscious, and under morphia, when of Japanese entered the room and sought to in- ti terrogate him. The doctor in charge of the case had naturally to decline to allow is to go on, and eventually had to remove the injured man to the operating room at the top of the hospital where his treatment was continued behind locked doors. There is} also the assault on Assistant Commissioner Samson, which appears to have arisen out of the old familiar language difficulty, which that officer endured with commendable r straint and dignity. The general impression conveyed to the fair number of observers d whole matter was that the Japanese were behaving with an utter disregard to the sufferings of the injured, which, save for the firmness of the doctors, might actually have limbeded the assistance which was being given them. It was not until the arrival of Commander Hayashi, of the Naval Landing-Party that a situation which can be described as nothing less than tense, was relieved, and that officer appears to have acted with a consideration, which up to that moment had been entirely missing. It is readily admitted that Japanese methods of prosecuting enquiries in such cases as these are entirely different from those of other people. It is not intended here to discuss the merits of the different systems, but it must be pointed out that in this particular instance they were dealing with people over whom they had not the slightest jurisdiction, individuals who are answerable only to authorities of their own nationality. There was nothing on Monday night, any more than there is now, to suggest that the Japanese authorities will be deprived of any information they can possibly desire, and to attempt to subject these two suffering individuals to interrogation in the condition in which they were displays not only an utter disregard of their legal rights, but also a callousness which in the circumstances is worthy of the completest condemnation. The attitude of the doctors in protecting the interests of their patients, is of course traditional but none the less praiseworthy in the circumstances in which they found themsel placed.
What necessity there was for the invasion of the Hospital and the terrifying of patients which must have inevitably resulted it is not easy to see. Those involved in the accident could not have got aw: even if they had wanted to; their condition would not have permitted it. The attempt to see Mrs. Lillie, and it is to be presumed to have questioned her, is to be all the more regretted when it is realized what she must have been suffering mentally and physically, and if the Japanese authorities had contented themselves with ascertaining where the two injured people were, their identity and the impossibility of their leaving the hospital, they could very well have left the remainder of their inquiries to a later date when both of them might be in a better condition to give that information which is necessary for clearing up the whole affair. It is to] be hoped that even now the Japanese authorities will refrain from pressing the matter until they are in a fit state of health to recall, and recount the details of an occurrence which is just as distressing to them as it must be to the Japanese themselves who must be natural anxious as to the fate of their fellow countryman. It has been a cause for much satisfaction that incidents involving Japanese and foreigners have been comparatively scarce during the past twelve months, and for that reason this tragic occurrence must be placed in its proper perspective as rapidly as possible. It does not matter in the slightest who was originally responsible for the occurrence. That is a question which has still to be decided, but there can be no difference of opinion as to the propriety of conduct, which disrupts th orderly proc of a hospital, leads to an assault on a ninent police o! al and pro y creates an atmosphere of tension a ly unneces y as it is regi ble In s connection ord of praise is due to the sisters of the Hospital. It is reported went out their business with an r of calm efficiency which in th circumstances does them infinite credit. Thi quiet courage was the one bright spot in a most unfortunate affair.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.