WAR IN CHINA: Scorched Flesh

Startled by the report that Japanese were outside the walls of Changsha, midway between Hankow and Canton, zealous city officials last week hurried to carry out their “scorched earth” policy (to destroy everything of value to the invaders). They made the mistake of forgetting to warn the populace in time. Fire roared through the city so fast that thousands of families were trapped. Firefighters struggled for five days before the flames were brought under control. Some 2,000 Chinese were burned to death, more injured.

A bigger mistake of the Changsha officials was their failure to inform themselves that the Japanese were still 58 miles away from the city. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek meted out punishment for both errors. He reputedly ordered Changsha’s garrison commander, chief of police and commander of the provincial troops executed for their “premature zeal.”