NOTES AND QUERIES
225
real attack from the aeroplanes who systematically machine gunned the fore-shore and junks. One junk was burned and the British steamer which happened to be in the harbour had an anxious time as the planes machine gunned the clustering group of sampans who were unloading her cargo. There were comparatively few casualties, 5 in all, 2 of whom died, the 3 survivors coming to our hospital for treatment for a smashed lower jaw, a transverse shot in the lumbar region and other gun-shot wounds. The next day we also got a casualty from a fishing village 20 miles away, the planes also paid us a further visit and again machine gunned the sampans so severely that none of them dared to venture out again and the ship had to leave without loading her full amount of cargo.
Then we had an interval of peace and quiet and during the morning people began to stream back from the country, shops were opened again and optimistic merchants plied a brisk trade in everything from a toothbrush to a small sucking pig. The weather had been very hot and sultry for several days and we were glad to see the heavy thunderclouds begin to gather and darken the sky. With the exception of a solitary plane which appeared in the early morning, did a little harmless shooting and then retired, we had no cause for alarm.
At about 2 p.m. it grew very dark and the increasingly loud crashes of thunder announced the long looked-for rain storm. Without any previous warning 3 planes flew into sight and after preliminary survey started to drop bombs in one of the most densely populated parts of the town; within 10 minutes they had been joined by 2 other planes, and before the people had time to run from the market place a great deal of destruction had been done. The planes swooped and hummed over the hospital compound and the smoke from falling houses and broken streets very soon formed a thick screen around us. Flying splinters from bombs rattled on the roof of our buildings but no serious damage was done. One bomb fell within a hundred yards of our front entrance; about 13 were dropped all together.
As soon as the planes had gone away the injured began to pour into the hospital. Many were seriously hurt and some were dying, many were badly mutilated and all were suffering from the shock and panic of a sudden attack: 11 died within 12 hours of their arrival, we have hope, however, that the further 20 who are still in the hospital may recover in time, a great number of them have compound fractures which we treat by Boehler's Method in extension without Plaster of Paris. There were about 40
NOTES AND QUERIES
225
real attack from the aeroplanes who systematically machine gunned the fore-shore and junks. One junk was burned and the British steamer which happened to be in the harbour had an anxious time as the planes machine gunned the clustering group of sampans who were unloading her cargo. There were comparatively few casualties, 5 in all, 2 of whom died, the 3 survivors coming to our hospital for treatment for a smashed lower jaw, a transverse shot in the lumbar region and other gun-shot wounds. the next day we also got a casualty from a fishing village 20 miles away, the planes also paid us a further visit and again machine gunned the sampans so severely that none of them dared to venture out again and the ship had to leave without loading her full amount of cargo. Then we had an interval of peace and quiet and during the morning people began to stream back from the country, shops were opened again and optimistic merchants plied a brisk trade in everything from a toothbrush to a small sucking pig. The weather had been very hot and sultry for several days and we were glad to see the heavy thun- derclouds begin to gather and darken the sky. With the exception of a solitary plane which appeared in the early morning, did a little harmless shooting and then retired, we had no cause for alarm. At about 2 p.m. it grew very dark and the increasingly loud crashes of thunder announced the long looked-for rain storm. Without any previous warning 3 planes flew into sight and after preliminary survey started to drop bombs in one of the most densely populated parts of the town; within 10 minutes they had been joined by 2 other planes, and before the people had time to run from the market place a great deal of destruction had been done. The planes swooped and hummed over the hospital compound and the smoke from falling houses and broken streets very soon formed a thick screen around us. Flying splinters from bombs rattled on the roof of our buildings but no serious damage was done. One bomb fell within a hundred yards of our front entrance; about 13 were drop- ped all together. As soon as the planes had gone away the injured began to pour into the hospital. Many were seriously hurt and some were dying, many were badly mutilated and all were suffering from the shock and panic of a sudden attack: 11 died within 12 hours of their arrival, we have hope, however, that the further 20 who are still in the hospital may recover in time, a great number of them have compound fractures which we treat by Boehler's Method in extension without Plaster of Paris. There were about 40
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.