793.94/15953: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 17—6 a.m.]
267. The Japanese yesterday again violently and indiscriminately bombed the lower and central business and residential areas of Chungking, utilizing for this purpose about 113 planes flying in 4 separate groups. Both incendiary and demolition bombs, some of very heavy caliber, were dropped causing several fires and extensive property damage. As in previous raids, property damage was confined largely to privately owned structures. Civilian casualties are estimated to number from one to two hundred persons. At least one bomb fell within the areas which the Japanese said they did not intend to attack in the note addressed to Ambassador Grew (Tokyo’s 450, June 14, 7 p.m., to the Department77), numerous bombs fell within 1,000 yards of the American gunboat but none closer than 300 yards (all Americans are believed to be safe). The school building and a residence of the Su Teh Girls School of the Methodist Episcopal Mission were damaged during the raid but an estimate of losses is not yet available. It will be recalled that this property was damaged in a Japanese raid conducted on January 15, 1939, (Embassy’s 27, January 15, 7 p.m., 193978).
Repeated to Peiping, Hankow and Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo. Air mail copy to Yunnanfu.
- Not printed; it quoted the note of June 14, from the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, printed in Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, Vol. i, p. 691.↩
- Not printed.↩