Office of the Historian

393.115 Standard Vacuum Oil Company/5: Telegram

The Commander in Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet (Yarnell) to the Chief of Naval Operations (Leahy)45

[Shanghai,] September 19, 1937—8:15 p.m.
[Received September 19—10:27 a.m.]

0019. During air raids by Chinese planes evening 18 September five incendiary and one fragmentation bomb were dropped inside compound Standard Vacuum Oil Company at Pootung.46 Three oil tanks were pierced, one godown set afire, another godown badly damaged and four company employees slightly injured. This compound and the destroyer alongside the company dock are plainly marked with United States colors both day and night. Request that this be brought [to] attention Chinese authorities with request that Chinese planes be directed exercise greater care refrain from dropping bombs U. S. property.

  1. Copy transmitted to the Department by the Navy Department.↩
  2. See also telegram No. 738, September 20, 11 p.m., from the Consul General at Shanghai, p. 345.↩