Office of the Historian

393.1163 Nantungchow/3: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, August 21, 1937—2 p.m.
[Received August 21—8:45 a.m.]

294. My 285, August 20, 4 p.m. Reference Gauss’ telegram of August 19, 2 p.m., regarding bombing by Japanese planes of American Mission Nantungchow.

1.
The senior aide to the Navy Minister called on the Assistant Naval Attaché for Air this morning in connection with the damage to the U. S. S. Augusta and injury of certain of her personnel, which is reported to have occurred at Shanghai at about 7 last night as a result of shell bursting on the after deck of the Augusta.
2.
Captain Kondo stated that the Navy Department has not yet received an official report on the matter from Vice Admiral Hasegawa, the Commander-in-Chief of the Third Fleet. According to Domei, there appeared to be some doubt as to whether the shell was of Japanese or Chinese origin. In any case the Navy Department wishes to express its regret for the occurrence and its sympathy and condolences for the victims.
3.
Captain Kondo verbally acknowledges receipt of a communication from the Naval Attaché’s office transmitting a list of places in China where American nationals and property are located, which information was to be sent to all naval aviation units for their guidance in taking precautions that American lives and interests should not be endangered. This list was a duplicate of that forwarded by the Embassy to the Foreign Office on August 20.
4.
Captain Kondo stated that the information as given (names of cities) was of relatively little help; that they wished to know the specific location of the property within each city in order that their [Page 272] flight maps might be corrected to include this. He suggested, however, that it would be helpful if clear nationality markings were displayed, such for example as large flags flown on poles or painted on roof tops. Finally, he pointed out that it will be necessary to carry out some night bombing and that therefore some means should be devised to indicate the same locations during period of darkness.
5.
Lieutenant Commander Ofstie65 informed Captain Kondo that his suggestions mentioned in previous paragraph would be communicated to the proper quarters for such action as might be practicable and that the Naval Attaché’s office would further advise him of any developments along those lines.

Repeated to Shanghai for relay to Nanking.

Grew
  1. Ralph Andrew Ofstie, Assistant Naval Attaché in Japan.↩