It was shortly after the noon hour. Stores again had their shutters down, their doors wide open and busy dens were carrying on business as usual. Outside on the streets the busy throngs walked up and -down. Street venders in monotonous tones called out their wares, hungry workfers here and there tarried by the curb to get a hasty lunch, coolies and water carriers were busy as usual, when suddenly, without previous warning the near raid alarm sounded out and a moment later the long drawn out 200m of approaching planes could be distinctly heard.
Rapidly the hum of the raiders became louder and louder and present nine Japanese bombers could be seen [approaching from the west.
'As they neared the city Chinese] Janti-aircraft guns snapped in angry defiance at the invaders, but the planes seemed to take no' notice of them, but quietly flew over the city ind disappeared over the brow of the White Cloud fountain. It was thought that the city had been spared the horrors of an aerial bombard ment, but ere long the sickening sound of the motors could be again heard, and presently the nine planes reappeared and once more flew over the city from east to west.
This time they meant business. they were scarcely over the city when the bombs began to drop with Jo deafening roar, and in such quick succession that it was dificult, to count them. Great clouds of dust Jarose. Boats and building rocked with the concession while fleeing, sampans barely managed to keep from turning turtle.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.