793.94/11583: Telegram
The Ambassador in China ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 11—11:45 a.m.]
1035. 1. At 2:45 p.m. today shells began falling on the near shore not far upriver from the Panay. Reluctant to leave Sanchihao and possibility of further contact with Americans Panay delayed moving until shells were falling in the water ahead and on the opposite bank and then proceeded upriver about 12 miles from Nanking to mileage 208 above Woosung where vessel is now anchored. As from this Embassy, please communicate our positions to Japanese Embassy with request that appropriate instructions be issued to Japanese forces including air force since Japanese bombing planes have flown daily over the Panay at the Sanchihao as well as former Hsiakuan anchorage.
2. British vessels also proceeded upriver.46
3. Sent to Shanghai, repeated to Department, Hankow, Peiping. Peiping please repeat to Tokyo with request that Embassy [at] Tokyo kindly take appropriate action with respect to last sentence first paragraph above.