Nanking Page #4

Around us here,

we now have thousands of poor people

crowded into all the available buildings.

What will happen to them

is mere conjecture.

The Zone is all marked

with flags and banners,

and so far,

the Japanese have not bombed it.

We still have hopes

that even if they do not recognize it,

they might respect it.

If they do, it will mean the saving

of thousands of lives of poor people.

Five air raids on Monday

and one on Tuesday.

I'm writing this during our sixty-first.

Tonight,

the flames are lighting the sky

above the whole

southwest corner of the city.

And in the afternoon,

we had seen clouds of smoke

rising in every direction, save northwest.

It is quite a sensation to be

the only surgeon in a big, war-torn city.

How can we leave the sick patients?

The Japs have now reached a point

about 25 miles from the city.

Gunfire could be heard.

It won't be long now.

The city gates

are to be closed tomorrow.

I sent a telegram to Siemens today,

asking them to pay up any

life insurance premiums that may be due.

If I were to say I was not afraid, I'd be lying.

The swift Japanese

advance on the national capital

make the vicinity of Nanking

a place of danger.

The Nipponese invaders strike westward

with incredible speed.

The defenders bravely ignore a Japanese

ultimatum calling on them to surrender.

If you're getting the same sort

of radio reports that we are,

you are undoubtedly alarmed

for our safety here.

We're a little concerned ourselves.

Today's air raid brings our tally to 114.

The tally must come to a close,

as today was one long air raid,

from morning till night.

I am writing this to the tune of big guns,

just outside of the city.

Japanese advance guards

have reached the walls in several places.

Until about 1:
00 p.m., December 10th,

General Asaka and I had been waiting

outside of Zhongshan Gate

for the bearer of the flag of truce

from the Chinese army.

However, he never came.

For that reason, from about 2:00 p.m.,

a general attack

was commenced against Nanking.

Shells from Japanese guns

commenced falling inside the city walls,

and I went outside to watch them.

They formed a perfect pattern,

the explosions advancing in regular rows

about 25 yards every half-minute.

They were coming from outside

the South Gate, directly towards me.

Uninterrupted artillery fire

from Purple Mountain.

Thunder and lightning around the hill.

And suddenly, the whole hill is in flames.

An old adage says,

"When Purple Mountain burns,

Nanking is lost."

December 13th.

I was in the middle of my service

when the telephone rang,

and I answered it.

I was asked to immediately go to the

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote