Shortly before the raid" started. British nationals in Chengchow were ad y Mr, G, S, Moss, the British Consul-General in Hankow, to evacuate, There are about fifteen British subjects in Chengchow, most fof them Canadians attached to the Canadian Church "Mission, Among the British residents is Dr. Donald Hankey, a 30-year-old sur eon from Guy's London, who few out to China in December to engage medical relief work, Dr. Hankey fg working at the American Baptist Milesion Hospital, where three Americans are believed to have been at the Ume of the bombing, namely, Dr, Sanford Emmett Ayers. Miss Katie Murray and Miss Grace Augusta Stripling.
The Arnhold Trading Ca, maintains a. representative at Chengchow, Mr, Macay, who Is there with his wife, 10 Houses Damaged During the bombing several mis-sites Innded in Chengchow's main freet, damaging as many as 600] houses.
"The post office in the Lunghai oilway" station was wrecked, as] were sections of the track, two locomotives and a coach.
The Bank of China building was damaged, but the premises of the Yee! Tsong Tobacco Ca. and the Arholé Trading Ca. are believed to have! escaped, both being situated away from the station area, All aports confirm the havoc wrought during the raid, especially on the main street, which is described fas a shambles. "Apparently many Jerry-built Chinese dwellings erum~ bled under the repercussions, while others were demolished by direct hits thole helpless occupants buried Under the debris.
The telephone, telegraph and ele trio power services were all inter Fuplod, and the relief of succouring the wounded and burying the dead,
pieces, was hampered, many" of whom had, been blown 16
the partial interruption of the water Many fires Faxed, "all day tow Mtpgiy. preventing the re brigade from tying to fight the flames, Crowded Area A foreigner who arrived here from Chengchow a few days ago told Reuter that It would be hard avoid a lure number of casualties finless bombs intended for the rail-Way stations fell directly on their the vieinily of the Lunghai station, he pointed out, there wore many' hotels, restaurants, bath-houses and places of amusement which we: harmally vers" crowded. One misdirected hemis, he said, would evitably cause many casualties.
The main street of Chengchow. ite declared, was only 200 yards, from the station. Tt was a typical Chinese street, with hundreds of small shows and dwellings.
With the memory of yesterday" vald and dread of further visitation: Chengchow spent a night of terror marked by a frenzied scramble of half-mad human beings along al! ronds leading from the eity—Reutes Japanese Claim Chanateh, Feb. 15.
Japanese military planes yesterday raided Chengenow in Honan and bombed the Chinese nuilitary headquarters, the railway station and Mlty. freight cars.
Chengchow, strategic western june~ tion of the' Lunghai and Peking-Hankow Railways, is expected to be the immediate objective of the Japanese thrust to the south. The tity has been termed by military observers the "gateway to Hankow." On Sunday the vanguard of Japanese infantry was reported to be within 100 Kdllometres of the lly.
The Japanese air voiders yesterday spotted 100 other freight cars but
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