Page 125 - GFA – A Different Drumbeat
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GFA – A Different Drumbeat 125
JAPANESE ATTACK SHANGHAI
On July 7, 1937, a battle was sparked between Japanese and Chinese troops at the Marco
Polo Bridge near Peking. This conflict between the two nations developed into a full-scale
war known as the Second Sino-Japanese war. There was escalating hostility from the
Chinese since Japan's conquest of Manchuria in 1932. Manchuria was renamed
Manchukuo and the resentment towards the puppet Manchukuo regime, led the two
countries into another war in central China. One battle took place in Shanghai.
On 13 August 1937, the Japanese began the assault on Shanghai, causing horrific
destruction. Though the opening battles of the conflict took place in the Hongkew district of
the International Settlement, this soon spread outwards to much of Chinese-controlled
Shanghai. The majority of the Concessions remained untouched by the conflict, and it was
often the case that those in the Shanghai International Settlement would watch the war
from the banks of Suzhou Creek, and could even visit the battle lines by virtue of their
extraterritoriality.
During the battle of Shanghai, there was house-to-house fighting, bombs detonating the city
and naval gunfire from infantry units. Both sides continuously reinforced their troops in
order to make up their heavy losses. The battle in Shanghai ended in mid-November when
Japan's 10th Army and 16th Divisions entered the battle scene threatening the Chinese
forces border. They forced the Chinese army to withdraw towards the west. The war in
Shanghai was a significant battle that caused both sides some damage, and caused them
to feel hatred and vengeance for each other.
A US flyer named Claire Lee Chennault urged Jiang Kai-shek to purchase modern planes
from the United States. In 1940 Jiang sent Chennault to Washington with T. V. Soong. They
and China’s ambassador Hu Shi persuaded President Franklin Roosevelt to ship China one
hundred P-40 fighters. American volunteers flew for the famous Flying Tigers and were
given $500 for each plane they shot down.
GFA became involved with the Chinese Red Cross and the International Relief Commission
who brought 100,000 refugees into the safety of the International Settlement. When TV
Soong moved to Washington, he left many of his personal effects with GFA. Soong also
asked him to look after his house in the French Concession, so GFA arranged for reliable
tenants to occupy it, and he visited the place himself once a week. During these years he
sometimes left Shanghai to visit Gansu or West China or the North, probably acting for the
Chinese Government as well as the Company.
In mid-November 1940 he wrote a very revealing letter to TV Soong in which he said,
‘Though I feel I am serving the interests of China in my present job, I sometimes long
toundertake work which lies nearer to my heart, so any time you want me just call me and I
will come.’ However it was not to be TV Soong who called him during the stormy years of
World War II, but Winston Churchill.
JAPANESE ATTACK SHANGHAI
On July 7, 1937, a battle was sparked between Japanese and Chinese troops at the Marco
Polo Bridge near Peking. This conflict between the two nations developed into a full-scale
war known as the Second Sino-Japanese war. There was escalating hostility from the
Chinese since Japan's conquest of Manchuria in 1932. Manchuria was renamed
Manchukuo and the resentment towards the puppet Manchukuo regime, led the two
countries into another war in central China. One battle took place in Shanghai.
On 13 August 1937, the Japanese began the assault on Shanghai, causing horrific
destruction. Though the opening battles of the conflict took place in the Hongkew district of
the International Settlement, this soon spread outwards to much of Chinese-controlled
Shanghai. The majority of the Concessions remained untouched by the conflict, and it was
often the case that those in the Shanghai International Settlement would watch the war
from the banks of Suzhou Creek, and could even visit the battle lines by virtue of their
extraterritoriality.
During the battle of Shanghai, there was house-to-house fighting, bombs detonating the city
and naval gunfire from infantry units. Both sides continuously reinforced their troops in
order to make up their heavy losses. The battle in Shanghai ended in mid-November when
Japan's 10th Army and 16th Divisions entered the battle scene threatening the Chinese
forces border. They forced the Chinese army to withdraw towards the west. The war in
Shanghai was a significant battle that caused both sides some damage, and caused them
to feel hatred and vengeance for each other.
A US flyer named Claire Lee Chennault urged Jiang Kai-shek to purchase modern planes
from the United States. In 1940 Jiang sent Chennault to Washington with T. V. Soong. They
and China’s ambassador Hu Shi persuaded President Franklin Roosevelt to ship China one
hundred P-40 fighters. American volunteers flew for the famous Flying Tigers and were
given $500 for each plane they shot down.
GFA became involved with the Chinese Red Cross and the International Relief Commission
who brought 100,000 refugees into the safety of the International Settlement. When TV
Soong moved to Washington, he left many of his personal effects with GFA. Soong also
asked him to look after his house in the French Concession, so GFA arranged for reliable
tenants to occupy it, and he visited the place himself once a week. During these years he
sometimes left Shanghai to visit Gansu or West China or the North, probably acting for the
Chinese Government as well as the Company.
In mid-November 1940 he wrote a very revealing letter to TV Soong in which he said,
‘Though I feel I am serving the interests of China in my present job, I sometimes long
toundertake work which lies nearer to my heart, so any time you want me just call me and I
will come.’ However it was not to be TV Soong who called him during the stormy years of
World War II, but Winston Churchill.
