793.941/13658
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 12.]
Sir: I have the honor to report information, received from foreign missionaries in the provinces of Shansi, Shantung, and Hopei, which shows widespread and ruthless destruction of towns and villages and considerable killing and wounding of Chinese civilians by Japanese military. So extensive has the destruction been during recent months in some areas that it would seem that some units of the Japanese military have adopted a definite policy of destruction, the purposes being one or more of the following: retaliation against civilians who have harbored—willingly or unwillingly—Chinese irregulars, impoverishing of the countryside so that Chinese irregulars will find subsistence difficult, and terrorization of the people so that they will be frightened into refusing aid to irregulars.
Destruction in Shansi Province:
The most detailed information received by the Embassy in regard to methodical destruction relates to southeast Shansi, the informant being an American missionary stationed in that area. He stated that methodical destruction by various Japanese military units of towns, villages, and isolated houses took place in the middle of April; that the destruction was evidently a planned maneuver as several Japanese units acted simultaneously; that he personally knew of the destruction of five hsien towns (Wuhsiang, Yuhsia, Heshun, Chinchow, and Hsiangyuan) and probably a sixth (Chinhsien); that towns, villages, and isolated houses lying along the roads connecting the district-towns (which are sometimes 30 miles apart) had also been largely destroyed, although sometimes the fires set by the Japanese military were not as effective as intended; that there were few Chinese in the district towns at the time of the entry of Japanese forces because the Chinese authorities, having prior information of Japanese approach, had effected evacuation of civilians; that, however, in some other towns and villages prior information was not received, as a result of which there were some civilian casualties, especially Chinese whose movements were regarded as suspicious by Japanese; that in some instances Japanese destroyed food stocks; that the Japanese forces withdrew after firing the area, allegedly for service in south Shantung; that the Chinese authorities soon returned; that the district town in which [Page 224] he lived (Liaochow) was not destroyed, although many villages in Liaochow district were burned; and that the Japanese also intentionally destroyed some temples. The informant took photographs of four of the destroyed hsien towns, prints of which are enclosed,5 as well as prints indicating treatment of villages, isolated residences, and temples.
Another foreign missionary (Canadian), stationed at Luan, in southeast Shansi but further south than the area referred to in previous paragraphs, traveled this spring from Luan to Wuan, in the northern tip of Honan Province. He informed a reliable American missionary that towns and villages along the more than seventy miles of the road which he followed had been destroyed by Japanese.
Destruction in Shantung Province:
Similar destruction, although probably not so systematic, has taken place in Shantung. An American missionary, stationed at Tsinan, whose mission district extends south to Taian, has informed the Embassy that he has received too many reports from responsible Chinese not to believe that in his mission district the Japanese military have burned villages, shot down civilian men, and raped the women, sometimes bayonetting the women after rape. A European priest, stationed along the Tsinan-Tsingtao Railway, wrote recently to an American friend in Peiping that he saw from a point in his district fifteen villages burning simultaneously, fired by Japanese. The bombing by Japanese planes of towns and villages in northeastern Shantung which are still under Chinese control has already been reported by the Consulates at Chefoo and Tsingtao. It is understood that the Japanese are still pursuing this practise.
Destruction in Hopei Province:
Destruction—partial or complete—of towns and villages in Hopei Province has previously been reported by the Embassy. Destruction has reportedly been most thorough east and west of the P’inghan Railway in the general area of Paoting. However, an American missionary stationed at Shuntehfu on the P’inghan Railway in southern Hopei has informed the Embassy that similar destruction has occurred west of the railway in his area. A missionary in eastern Hopei southwest of Tientsin stated some time ago that the Japanese policy of destruction of towns and villages in his area was evidently being abandoned, a report which indicated that the policy had been in force prior to that time.
Respectfully yours,
First Secretary of Embassy
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