793.94/9565: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 21—11:34 a.m.]
531. This afternoon at the request of Commander-in-Chief I informed the Mayor of Shanghai orally of the incident on the Augusta last evening when a small shell exploded on the deck killing one seaman and wounding 18 others. I added the request of the Commander-in-Chief that great care be observed by Chinese forces not to fire into area between the barrier in upper river and Soochow Creek (where a number but not all of the foreign men-of-war are moored). Mayor inquired whether this message implied shell had come from Chinese forces or whether similar message was being sent to Japanese side. I replied that the Admiral had informed me that he had communicated with Japanese naval authorities and desired me to inform the Chinese authorities.66 I have yet to receive an expression of sympathy or regret from the Mayor.
Sent to the Department, Nanking, Tokyo.