WAR IN CHINA: ARP

Barcelona’s defense demonstrated that with intelligent air raid precautions, a whole day’s series of five raids need not kill more than five people. But apparently nothing in the world can make the Chinese people defend themselves intelligently. Last week 18 Japanese planes flew three times over Ichang, Yangtze trading centre between Hankow and Chungking. Bombs damaged two American mission compounds clearly identified with U. S. flags and clearly marked on maps given the Japanese last June. U. S. Consul General in Hankow Paul R. Josselyn lodged a sharp protest which the Japanese did not immediately answer. But the appalling news about the three raids was that when the planes had dropped their stuff, nearly 3,000 Chinese lay dead.

Private letters reached the U. S. last week citing incidents which helped explain this terrific casualty. Like the ostrich, the Chinese believes that if he cannot see his attacker, he is safe. When Changsha was bombed, citizens rushed under trees and dived into bushes, murmuring thanks for their safety. Best example of Chinese ARP came from Changteh, 100 miles north of Changsha. There police systematically shot every dog they could find because the city’s elders decided that their barking attracted Japanese bombing planes.

Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir John Simon announced in the House of Commons that Britain would put up £5,000,000 to help stabilize Chinese currency. Not only did the money help China, but it thoroughly botched up a Japanese program to oust the Chinese dollar by Japanese-backed money.