393.1163M56/109: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 26—8:25 a.m.]
565. William R. Johnson, American missionary, in a letter dated November 4 from Nanchang, Kiangsi, reported to the Embassy that in air raid experienced at Nanchang on October 31 several bombs were dropped in vicinity of property of Methodist Episcopal Mission, that none of the bombs directly struck property of mission, that fragments of bombs pierced 4 mission buildings destroying doors, screens, plaster and woodwork and that 1 man was killed and several others (presumably all Chinese) were wounded on mission property as a result of bombing. Although American citizens were present on mission premises at time of bombing, all escaped injury or death. No estimate of total property damages was given.
In an attached “news note” dated November 3 Mr. Johnson commented inter alia that on
“October 31st occurred the worst bombing in the history of the city as far as civilian bombings are concerned. Two hundred bombs fell over 9 of the 10 police precincts. Successive squadrons of planes crossed the city from various directions. If there were military objectives there is little evidence of it. I have seen scores of places where bombs were dropped but scarcely one where there is any military objective apparent. Five bombs fell on properties of Methodist institution in the north suburbs, and 3 more within 15 feet of the boundaries of these properties, one within 25 yards of a large American flag on the platform on the ground. No Methodist owned building was struck, but one small bomb or a number of hand grenades struck at few yards south of the main hospital building, wounding four patients in the wards and spraying with glass Misses Julia Bradley and Evaline Gaw (American citizens), though neither was injured. In the city scores were killed and hundreds wounded …”48
The Department will recall that this American property has been bombed on various occasions in 1937 and ’38, the last of which was reported in Hankow’s October 7, 2 p.m.49 I believe that it would be desirable to make renewed and emphatic representations to the Japanese authorities in regard to these bombings.
Repeated to Peiping, Hankow, Shanghai: Shanghai repeat to Tokyo.