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FAMILY LEAVING SHANGHAI
This is the hardest of all to write. It was my home for ten years where I had many good and even beautiful times till the President Harrison started slowly down the Whangpoo September 14, 1941 - a day earlier than originally intended. No visitors were allowed aboard but somehow two of Carroll Alcott's ''pals'' had managed to make a last minute attempt to get him in one way or another. We had all left many friends behind - to what, we didn't know. Although Shanghai had been through four years of war, at first in the very thick of it, the city had been seething with talk of even worse things to come for many months. Many friends who were forced to be left behind, and most of them are still there, had come down to the Custom's jetty to smile a sad farewell, or still further with us by walla walla (motorboat taxi) to the very ship's side itself. An added sadness was having to leave faithful servants and pets and not having any assurity provision could be made for them. In my own case the friend who thought he'd be able to keep an eye on the servants was killed a day or two after the December 8 fighting broke out. A faithful friend and I had been trying to make satisfactory arrangements for days for my chum and play-fellow of years, ''Lady,'' a lovable wire-haired fox terrier. It had to be left that Dr. Noble of the Blue Cross Dog Hospital on Edinburgh Road and my friend would do all they could, and I know they would, but it is hard to tell what may have occurred in the dreadful days that came. Except for direct news from Gripsholm repatriates or about them I have never been able to learn anything except hearsay here and there about ten or so especially intimate friends still in the Far East, although I cabled a few minutes after the Pearl Harbor news came over the air (hoping some message might slip through) and have tried the usual channels since. Where ''Lady'' was concerned I could for the time being only say, which I read somewhere once, and with the hope events would some day prove it false: Japanese hirelings had been intimidating chauffers and driving private vehicles off the streets of Shanghai, through the Japanese lines, and on to such places as Nanking for some time before we sailed. The ''business'' rose to such proportions that there was a persistent story the insurance companies made a dicker with the Japs to leave cars alone in which they had an interest. Whether true or not, it is about the only way the companies could have protected themselves under the conditions prevailing. News reached me on February 17, 1944 that the Japs had got what was left of my car although I had made arrangements before leaving to get the greater part of its worth. A letter reached New York January 19, 1943 which had been mailed me in Shanghai December 5, 1941, without the slightest clue as to where it had been in the meanwhile, and many had similar experiences. I was in hospital
for a while
in late August and then home for a week or so which then happened to be
on Route Dufour next the Masonic Temple with the American flag always
flying
atop and only a few yards from my bed. It was muggy, murky weather with
the ''Paddy-got-drunk'' frogs calling their wives being about all to
break
the monotony of the long nights. However, some friends kindly
arranged a most welcome change one night and a young singer from the Ukraine who had followed some singing master to Shanghai, but who refused to sing in any of the local night spots, most courteously and obligingly ''entertained'' in the next room. Her beautiful voice was in sharp contrast to the Japanese ''Marching Song'' (that's the only description I know of it, but many know it all too well), snatches of which we could hear coming from the other side of Siccawei Creek, and which is ill-boding, ominous music, if music such it could be called.
- - - - Go to to link at top of page to view their whole story
July 1944, American aircraft appears over Shanghai. By November, major air raids began. The Americans had been bombed, at Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941, so they had a score to settle with the Japanese. By July 1945, Americans Boering B-29s were heard everyday. The United States of America has been based on Okinawa, since June 21, 1945. The Japanese refused to surrender. Their war minister, Koreichi Aname, vowed they would fight to the end. The Japanese themselves were stationed near Hongkew. During the eight years of Japan's war with China (1937-1945), an estimated 15 million Chinese have died, and starvation and pestilence threatened the living. Struggles between the Nationist government of Chiang Kai-Shek and China's Communists, led by Mao Tse-tung had made matters worse. From 1945-1949 there was a Chinese civil war. On October 1, 1949, Mao Tse-tung appeared outside the gates of the Forbidden City and declared victory as The People's Republic of China. From this day forward, the Communist rule in China. Famous dates in
August 1945: |