Evening star., 1937-12-30

do running. The poor, befuddled ma
tives give way only when loudly barked
at or rudely showed. It Is . process
| which even the most polite European
or American must adopt II he wants
to get anywhere in 4 hurry. The Chi
nese live 50 thickly that casual bump
ing Of shoulders with ones neighbors
means nothing to them. This happens
during the course Of any promenade.
Only when accompanied by = vigorous
shove and . strident yell do they rec
osnize the fact that some one Is In 4
hurry.
made turn into the little narrow
street that put me not more than q
few hundred yards from the spot
where I knew the Panay had been
anchored. There I stopped still, with
my heart In my mouth. There was no
sign Of 1t. 1t had sailed without me,
and closed my eyes at the thought
Of remaining alone in that terror
stricken city. The next moment I
started to run again; perhaps there
was forlorn chance that the Panay
was within yelling distance.
But when got to the river bank
the Panay was well out into mid
stream. There was no possible
chance that they could hear me, but,
despite this. I yelled and screamed
and waved my arms. In one hand I
held my hat, in the other my camera.
know leaped and shouted ~ tore
along the shore. 1t wasn't possible
that they would see me against the
crowded Thousands that lined the
! banks OF the river-yet some odd god
OF luck must have smiled upon me,
because they did.
A small boat swung down the
Panay's davits and hit the water. I
| told myself that it couldn't be . boat
sent to pick me up. Even after 1t
steered straight for me. I couldn't get
myself to believe it. I kept dancing
and prancing around q half circle Of
curious Chinese, who found my antics
more interesting than the refuge they
should be seeking from the japanese
onslaught, but the boat headed for
me. and 20 minutes later was aboard
the Panay denying to newspaper
friends that had been scared or in
the least bit troubled by the possibility
OF being left behind.
Capt. Hughes Of the Panay well
coined me aboard and got friendly
greetings from Executive Onicer
Anders and Ensign Biwerse. Later I
was to see Capt. Hughes badly
wounded and Anders 70 seriously hurt
that he had to chalk his orders in
trembling hands. Biwerse was to
suffer from the first bomb blast in Z
discomforting, II not injurious man
ner. The explosion blew his uniform
on, leaving him . semi-nude, but still
Is edicient an onicer as ! have ever
come across. I talked to Sandro
Sandri, the italian newspaper CORE
spondent, who later died from wounds
suffered In the attack.
had brought with me 4 load Of
negative and this I slowed away in
the quarters assigned to me by the
ships command. It 70 happened
that my quarters were Immediately
adjacent to the deck, and 1t was
because Of this fortunate circumstance
I was able to photograph almost con-
tinually the events that occurred
during the bombing.
1t must be understood that the
type Of camera I had required re-
loading with new film after every hun
dred feet. or. roughly, after each
fn1nllfA Rhnnt{n0 NA
more hectic camera experience in
my life. And I don't want one. I
grabbed my camera as soon As I re-
gained some sense Of equilibrium
after the first heavy bombs struck Us.
From then alternated my time in
three ways: Shooting the attack and
the mounting casualties aboard the
ship; helping stow away those who
were wounded. and ducking into
companionways to reload my camera.
During al this time my reportorial
Instinct made me record with q much
exactness ~ possible oil the actual
details I could note. The true story
OF these details (Which every one OF
my shipmates have corroborated In
repeated conversations) makes q in
tense . story ~ ever has been noted
IN the annals Of current world history.
1t 10 not supposition or hearsay. It u
IN experience lived through. can
recall everything and I intend to tell
everything 30 that you may live 1t, as
! lived 1.-THE most incredible occur
renee In modern civilized society.
| (Cop Yrisht 1887. Des Moines Nssistsr and
| Tribune 0yndicate.)
! (To be continued tomorrow.)