Shanghai Diary (Part 3)

In October 1937, the young American sailor Earl Jackson Clanton was in Shanghai on board the USS Augusta, which was keeping a vigil in the port while Chinese and Japanese troops were engulfed in vicious fighting over the fate of the city. Clanton completed a fascinating journal, providing a day-by-day account of the dramatic events, brought to you here courtesy of Clanton’s grandson, Adam Clanton. The photos above, showing American and British forces witnessing part of the battle, is also kindly provided by Adam Clanton.

Oct 29, 1937:

Went ashore and rode around through the International Settlement. Crowding through the mobs of people who, many of which, did not know or care what language I spoke. During the height of the Shanghai War each person was chiefly interested in preserving his own hide and wondering where the next meal was coming from. One could notice the Chinese were wary of the air raids and often stopped to gaze at the sky as if wondering if when the next air raid would be. At the sound of planes overhead they would scurry for cover. Almost every language in use today is spoken in Shanghai and perhaps many languages and dialects known only to a very few. There are somewhere near 300,000 people on the verge of starvation or freezing to death this winter. On riding through the native city one may see bent and wrinkled old men and women and tiny tots hardly large enough to walk out begging coppers from foreigners. Their lines is: “No Momma, no Papa, no Chow Chow, give me copper,” this being all the English they know. Visited French Town (Blood Alley), the cabarets, the Great Wing On department store and everything else combined, YMCA, and back to ship.

Oct 30, 1937:

Japanese attack Pootung. Pootung shelled to pieces less than 100 yards from Augusta. Dead bodies float up and down the river continually. (Up when the tide comes in.)

Oct 31, 1937:

The Greatest Fire since the Chicago fire (even larger than the Chicago fire). The burning of Chapei, set by retreating Chinese and enlarged upon by advancing Japanese. Burning on a line of about 25 miles long and about 8 miles through. Almost a semicircle around the International Settlement.

Nov 1, 1937:

Chapei still burning, has been burning for over a week now. Japanese drive Chinese back 20 miles. Went ashore and visited Race Course on Nanking & Bubbling Well Roads. Had a good Chinese Chow and then went to French Concession. The French Concession is known as “Blood Alley”, “French Town,” or Rue Chu Pao San etc.

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