Letter from Sun on October 7, 1937

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Dublin Core

Title

Letter from Sun on October 7, 1937

Subject

Letter from Sun on October 7, 1937

Transcription

You have probably read in the papers the unimaginable fantasy that is taking place here every day. Bombings of women and children, killing of innocent civilians, and the ravage of the greatest industrial center in China – Shanghai. Three of these bombings I escaped miraculously only to find sights too horrible to relate. Perhaps the most poignant of which is the young mother about to give birth. She died because she was torn by bomb fragments. The babe fell out and died a few minutes later. A refugee train was bombed killing three hundred women and children who patiently awaited the train which will take them to points of alleged safety. It is here that the tragic mother met her death. Three greatest centers of traffic, business and shopping, were bombed killing a total of one thousand. Canton suffered to the extent of about three thousand when the Japanese made sudden raids. Tientsin was massacred with gasoline poured on houses and then set on fire. All those who dared escape the flames were machined-gunned. Schools, colleges, and universities wore thoroughly and systematically razed to the ground. If this be war, the ape man is a civilization in itself.

However, we are not complaining because we know well the capabilities of the Japanese who are neighbors. But instead we are fighting although back to the wall. In the heart of every Chinese the hatred for the Japanese is deeply rooted which will never mellow with the years but will be inflamed by the most outrageous acts of mankind which have destroyed our homes, separated our loved ones, and shaken our confidence in peaceful pursuits. To the man we are ready, and should we be called to the colors the response will be overwhelming. All are ready to make the supreme sacrifice, and it will be only over the dead bodies of all able bodied Chinese that the Japanese will be able to rule. Then what will be in the victory?

The will to fight has inflamed the entire population from the highest to the most humble and from the oldest to the youngest, because we all realize that we are fighting to safeguard our principles, our nation, our existence and our civilization. We are up against primitive savagery hitherto undreamed of, but we are prepared - desperately prepared.

In our hour of stress, we look across the ocean to America for support and assistance. The bonds of friendship between the two great peoples have been traditional and is a bye word in the peace among the nations. We do not hope for the American boys to fight by our sides. Nothing is further from our minds. But why such aloofness? Why such rigid interpretation of the neutrality act? I had the happy experience of spending eleven constructive years in the states, and I quite appreciate the feelings of the people against war. But we also hate war. When it is forced upon us, however, we have no alternative but to defend our homes and hearth. The neutrality helps no one but the Japanese, and by no stretch of the imagination can I allow my mind to become convinced that the Americans are friends of the horde of primitive savages

However, we are not complaining because we know well the capabilities of the Japanese who are neighbors* But instead we are fighting although back to the wall* In the heart of every Chinese the hatred for the Japanese is deeply rooted which will never Bellow with the years but will be inflamed by the most out* rageoue acts of mankind which have destroyed our homes, separated our loved ones, and shaken our confidence in peaceful pursuits* To the man we are ready, and should we be Sailed to the colors the response will be overwhelming* All are ready to make the supreme sacrifice, and it will be only over the dead bodies of all able bodied Chinese that the Japanese will be able to rule* Then what will be in the victory?
The will to fight has inflamed the entire population from the highest to the most humble and from the oldest to the youngest, because we all realise that we are fighting to safeguard our principles, our nation, our existence and our civilization* we are up against primitive savagery hitherto undreamed of, but we are prepared - desperately prepared*
In our hour of stress, we look across the ocean to America for support and assistance* The bonds of friendship be* tween the two great peoples have been traditional and is a bye word in the peace among the nations* we do not hope for the American boys to fight by our sides. Nothing is further from our minds* But why such aloofness? Why such rigid interpretation of the neutrality act? I had the happy experience of spending eleven constructive years in the states, and I quite appreciate the feel inge of the people against war* But we also hate war* When it is forced upon us, however, we have no alternative but to defend our homes arm hearth* The neutrality helps no one but the Japanese, and by no stretch of the imagination can I allow sy mind to be* some convinced that the Americans are friends of the horde of primitive savages

Creator

Thomoas C.Y.Sun

Publisher

Phillips Academy

Date

October 7, 1937

Rights

All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy

Language

English

Type

Correspondence

Collection

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