793.94/2121: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
774. Legation’s 767, October 14, 9 a.m.55 Colonel Margetts56 has just handed me his report regarding Chinchow incident of which following is summary.
At about 2 p.m., October 8th, without any previous warning, 12 Japanese planes flew over the city of Chinchow at estimated altitude about 2,000 feet. They circled city once and then headed for radio station where they began dropping bombs. Flight continued over northeast suburbs and bombs were dropped in the vicinity of the Irish Presbyterian Mission Compound and the French Catholic Mission. Bombing was very promiscuous in the northeast city. Flight then continued toward railroad station and University of Communications. Bombing continued for half an hour during which time between 30 and 36 bombs exploded.
At the time of the raid there were in and about the city 2,000 infantry troops and one regiment field artillery. No anti-aircraft artillery located in the vicinity. All witnesses emphatic in stating that no fire of any kind was directed against the airplanes.
[Page 197]Casualties were 16 killed, 12 seriously wounded and about 30 slightly wounded. Of the wounded 3 have since died including a Russian professor. Only one soldier killed and 2 wounded, all others civilians including several women and children.
Property losses slight, mostly broken windows and scarred walls as most bombs landed in open plots of ground, only 6 hitting residences. No bombs dropped within walls of the Chinese city.
From fragments examined it is believed bombs weighed 40 or 50 pounds with very powerful explosive charge.
University buildings apparently principal objective because they are housing Provincial Government headquarters. Second objective was probably military camp about 3 miles from the center of town where 12 bombs burst but caused little damage.
Although the raiders may have had a military mission evidently little attention was given to modern conventions of ordinary humanity or protection of personal property. It was mere accident that two foreign missions and the railroad hospital which flew two Red Cross flags were not directly hit by bomb. Bursts were so close to them that fragments were found in all three compounds.
Full particulars with photographs by mail.57