CO129-570-7 Sino-Japanese War- attack on shipping 21-3-1938 - 18-11-1938 — Page 37

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COPIES OF THIS PAMPHLET MAY BE SECURED ON APPLICATION

Address Communications to E. H. Lockwood, Secretary, 198, The Bund, Canton.

CANTON COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE TO CHINA 廣州外僑對華正義會

This Bulletin is prepared by Rev. G. Baker, Church Missionary Society,

Canton, China.

THE BOMBING OF CANTON.

The appalling destruction and loss of life from the bombing of Canton has already been published to the world. We who are foreigners in this city can hardly realise the depth of the tragedy; and feel very conscious that even the little practical help and sympathy we can give is almost nothing compared to the extent of the suffering. Facts and figure alone convey little of the

No. VIII.

June 25, 1938.

real war situation. We are, therefore, including in this number impressions rather than statistics of the bombing, because we believe it is vital that public opinion throughout the world should not let itself accept the fear- ful statistics of war, as though they were of a natural calamity; but should decide quickly that this organized and barbarous slaughter of civilians must stop.

WAS THE BOMBING INDISCRIMINATE?

A certain amount of confusion exists on this sub- ject. We suggest that the answer is threefold.

1.

(a) No one denies that there are certain military posts and barracks in Canton. But the mere pre- sence of soldiers constitutes no defence against air-attack. Moreover hardly any of these have been hit, and from the military point of view, is the killing of a few soldiers worth the expense of the hundreds of bombs rained on this city?

(b) No anti-aircraft guns were put up in the city until after it had been raided. It is therefore misleading to describe Canton as heavily fortified.

(c) Can we in any case justify attacks on military objectives in such a densely populated place as Canton, where it can be shown that far more civilians than military have been killed?

2. There have been other objectives aimed at by the

Japanese:

(a) Wong Sha Railway Station, terminus of the Canton-Hankow Rly. It should be noted that war-materials from Hong Kong to Hankow do

3.

not go through this station, but round by a loop- line which cuts out Canton altogether.

(b) Essential services of Water and Electric Light. This in itself is an attack on the health and well-being of every non-combatant.

(c) Government Offices, and residences of Civil Government officials, again showing this to be a deliberate effort to paralyse the social life of the civilian and not the military population.

(d) Cultural institutions, and National Monu- ments, such as the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, and the National Sun Yat Sen University.

A great many other bombs have been dropped in almost every section of the city, for which we can see no reason at all. These must therefore be described as purely indiscriminate acts of terrorism. Finally it is important to add that the Japanese marksmanship has been very inaccurate, so that the effects have been those of indiscriminate bombing even in those cases where the intention was not so.

THE FIVE POINT OBJECTIVE OF THE CANTON COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE TO CHINA

1. United Action between the United States and Great Britain in the present Sino-Japanese Crisis.

2. Economic Boycott of Japan by Western Powers.

3. Aid to China in the purchase and transportation of means of defense.

4. Positive Action upholding China's sovereignty by Western Powers.

5. Contributions for relief work for those who suffer from Japanese atrocities not only in Canton but in

all parts of China. They should be sent to the Committee Headquarters, 198, The Bund, Canton.