The USS Panay served in the Asiatic Fleet of the US Navy on the Yangszte River, protecting American nationals and property being threatened in the disturbances of Warlord Era China. In this capacity, she took part in the evacuation of American embassy staff from Nanking in December 1937.
For their part, the Japanese Army had a 'attack any and all ships' order sent to planes operating under the Navy Air Service. After requesting and receiving confirmation of the order, the Japanese Navy sunk the Panay, killing three Americans and wounding 43. Not only was the Panay destroyed, but three Standard Oil tankers, which were evacuating families of Standard Oil employees, were destroyed as well.
The Japanese government took full responsibility for sinking the Panay, but continued to maintain that the attack had been unintentional, claiming that none of their servicemen saw any American flags. This was contradicted by a US Navy court of inquiry, which claimed that several American flags were visible on the ship. The Japanese government would pay a indemnity, but tensions remained high between Japan and the US.
What if rather than allowing the Japanese to get away with the sinking without any repercussions, Roosevelt used the sinking as a casus belli to declare war against Japan, in much the same way as the Maine had been used to justify the war against Spain in 1898?
For their part, the Japanese Army had a 'attack any and all ships' order sent to planes operating under the Navy Air Service. After requesting and receiving confirmation of the order, the Japanese Navy sunk the Panay, killing three Americans and wounding 43. Not only was the Panay destroyed, but three Standard Oil tankers, which were evacuating families of Standard Oil employees, were destroyed as well.
The Japanese government took full responsibility for sinking the Panay, but continued to maintain that the attack had been unintentional, claiming that none of their servicemen saw any American flags. This was contradicted by a US Navy court of inquiry, which claimed that several American flags were visible on the ship. The Japanese government would pay a indemnity, but tensions remained high between Japan and the US.
What if rather than allowing the Japanese to get away with the sinking without any repercussions, Roosevelt used the sinking as a casus belli to declare war against Japan, in much the same way as the Maine had been used to justify the war against Spain in 1898?