793.94/10747: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
Nanking, October 19, 1937—4
p.m.
[Received 4:48 p.m.]
[Received 4:48 p.m.]
831. Embassy’s 826, October 19, 10 a.m.
- 1.
- Another air raid began 12:40 p.m. today. Twelve heavy bombers accompanied by 3 pursuits in successive flights dropped about 15 bombs in military airfield region and 12 along Pukow water front. Observers on U. S. S. Luzon which was rocked by the wash from bombs falling in the river were of opinion that bombs dropped at Pukow were 500 pounds in weight. Pukow objective was apparently railway ferry spur and terminus, bombs fell in and near railway yards, destroyed and set fire to number of huts and small dwellings and caused number of civilian casualties. Bombing planes and Japanese pursuit flew very high, well over 10,000 feet and out of range of anti-aircraft guns which constituted only defense and one flight as usual passed over Embassy before unloading. Two buildings of airfield were reportedly damaged but no Chinese planes or military personnel were destroyed.
- 2.
- Sent Department, repeated Peiping, Shanghai, Tokyo.
Johnson