in 1937, sailors in the Asiatic fleet were conducting one of their annual cruises in the Orient. While they were in port for a scheduled visit, they got a small taste of what was to come in less than four years. The Japanese had already been in China since 1932 and were rapidly advancing until they reached Shanghai. Here, despite the odds, the Chinese were tenaciously hanging on fighting house to house. On August 14, the Chinese did bombing runs on a supposed target, the Japanese cruiser Idzumo. The cruiser was docked near an International Settlement controlled by the British and where many Chinese also reside. However, during the raid, four bombs accidentally landed on the settlement killing 700 and injuring 3,000 on-site. Two of these landed in Nanjing road and the other two in front of the Great World Amusement Center on Avenue Edward VII. The latter bombs killed around 2,000 shoppers and passers-by. These early experiences were important in understanding the nature of the enemy we were about to face. It was also a rude awakening to the young sailors who had grown accustomed
Posted on: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 14:13:15 +0000
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