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Hsuchowfu, Mar. 30.
On March 28, this city suffered an aerial bombardment by Japanese planes different from any in the past.
This was the first time that bombs fell inside the city, seven falling one mile from the nearest point on the 'T.-P. Railway and the same distance from the Lung-Hai Railway.
Since August 31, 1937, the railway sections of the city have been frequently bombed, some days as many as 50 bombs being dropped, The total casualties to date are about 200, of these twelve were soldiers. In the raid of March 28 the killed were four, the wounded eleven, all civilians. It is not clear just what was the object of this raid as nothing of military value was damaged in the ci It is interesting to note the difference in the morale of the populace now and six months ago, Then the people were in a state of panic from the raids, now they treat them as a matter of course and business goes on as usual.
The will to Fight The determination, the will to fight of the people, has stiffened a great deal. This is largely due to the reaction against the well-authenticated reports of the merciless raping of women and young girls by Japanese soldiers in many cities and villages.
I called on two wounded Japanese prisoners here, and was glad to note ihe good treatment they are being given, They well fed and their wounds are being treated carefully b; Chinese military doctors. Two British war correspondents just returning from the northern front told me yesterday that they met on the train Japanese prisoner who also was being well treated by his captors, The Chinese soldiers provided him with cigarettes.
The general situation here has improved greatly during the past week or ten days. Soldiers and people seem remarkably optimistic. The presence of Chinese planes at the front has doubtless had something to do with this, as have the Chinese victories of the past ten days, Miss Florence Nichols will broadcast over station X MH D Monday at 110 pin. Her subject will be "God's use of the unusable." AN are cordially invited to "Tune In." Frequency 760 K C or Wavelength 394.6 Meters."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.