On April 28, five seaplanes came over, and from 8.30 to 9.30 a.m., subjected the city to a very severe bombing. Both ends of the newly constructed Ling Gyiao bridge, spanning, the main branch of the river from the city to Kongtong were bombed again and again. No resistance of any kind was offered to the planes; but with savage ruthlessness they dropped a total of 30 bombs on houses, shops and the fish market, on either side of the entrance to the bridge.
The number of dead is unknown, but accurate figures available reveal that out of 44 people taken to the Hwa Mei Hospital, eight died, either on the way, or just after admittance; and 36 severely wounded are being cared for. From the debris of the collapsed and fire destroyed houses, 30 bodies have so far been removed, and identified at the city morgue.
Several junks were capsized by bombs that. fell in the river and the number of persons drowned is estimated at over 70. Itis feared that at least 200 persons lost their lives, and great blocks of civilian property were destroyed. No military or government centres were hit, nor do any of these appear to have been the objectives of the planes. The consensus of opinion is, of course, that the fliers were endeavouring to destroy the Ling Gyiao, though for what possible reason remains obscure.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.