Letters, Oct. 23, 1939

(6 of 6)

The Japanese were celebrating the Emperor's birthday in Hongkew Park. No foreigners except a few newsmen and military attaches were invited. The Japanese community, including Koreans, were the guests. Japanese marines, gendarmes guarded all entrances and gates to the park, kept a close watch. Occasionally they frisked a man. Unfrisked was a Korean patriot who came in carrying what looked like a Japanese thermos bottle slung from his shoulder. (Thermos bottles and canteens are standard equipment for Japanese and subjects on holiday.)

On the central platform were General Shirakawa, commanding Japanese Expeditionary Forces to China, Ambassador to China Shigemitsu, Admiral Nomura, commanding the Japanese Third Fleet, and several other army and navy men, consuls and vice-consuls, Woosung Road bigwigs.

The Korean eased up thru the crowd, stepped out in front, tossed his "thermos" bottle on to the platform, turned to run. BANG! Several on the platform slumped to the floor. Stunned, the crowd held back a second, and then like a wave, rushed in on the Korean, began tearing him to pieces.

Officials most badly wounded were General Shirakawa, who later died, Ambassador Shigemitsu who had to have his leg amputated in the succeeding weeks, the last time by the Emperor's personal surgeon sent from Tokyo, and Admiral Nomura, whose eye was peppered with steel splinters, later had to have it removed. Others on the platform came away with painful injuries and cuts, but none was permanently disabled.

The Korean was rescued from the mob by quick work of police and marines, rushed off to Naval Landing Headquarters.

MALCOLM ROSHOLT

Rosholt, Wis.

> Reader Rosholt, onetime news editor of the China Press, thanks for a newsmanlike account of Admiral Nomura's lost eye.—ED.