The only heads of states whose wives last week were writing regularly for the New York daily press were Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Chiang Kaishek. The Chinese Premier & Generalissimo was holding out at Nanking, his frequently bombed capital (see p. 22). and the diary which Mme Chiang began cabling to Manhattan's Herald Tribune last week was in a different class from Mrs. Roosevelt's description of such events as how last week a baby bear reared up on its hind legs and might have scratched the side of the President's car had it not moved on (see p. 15). Excerpts from Mme Chiang:
"Nanking, China. I have just returned from a visit to the front in the Shanghai area. The sight of thousands of wounded soldiers patiently waiting at every first-aid station for transportation to hospitals in the rear wrings my heart, despite their magnificent bravery and resignation to pain.
"More than any one else I am in a position to appreciate the tragedy of Japan's aggression against China, for I know China was on the high road to great progress when hostilities broke out. My special part in building up of the nation was to assist my husband in creating a New Life movement and to help reorganize the air force. . . .
"It may seem a strange activity to couple with the direction of a movement for national spiritual uplift. But the Manchurian conflict had taught China the truth of the tragic axiom that 'God helps those who help themselves.' . . .
"Nanking. Japanese contempt for noncombatant lives and humanitarian institutions, such as hospitals, was the outstanding feature of the bombing raids of the last weekend. Ninety-five Japanese planes made deliberate attempts in two successive raids to raze the 500-bed Central Rockefeller Hospital, although the Japanese claim this was occupied by the military.
"After my examination of the wreckage I have no hesitation in saying this was the most stupid and most brutal act of modern warfare. Great Red Cross characters were painted across the roof giving the name of the hospital. One hundred and fifty patients were killed, 200 medical staff servants and others, to a total of over 500 casualties. . . .
"Intelligence states that the Japanese are determined to wipe out the Generalissimo and myself by air bombing, thus causing chaos in China and enabling them to install a puppet ruler. . . ."
"Via Nanking. (Mme Chiang's present whereabouts undisclosed for military reasons.) My heart is chilled by the thought of what is coming over the rest of the land in the near and distant future, with our ports blockaded, our wide northern regions being torn by ruin, and all about us here doomed to demolition.
"But one thought is dominant—that is, to fight until we can fight no more."
Most potent atrocity picture of the War appeared on U. S. front pages last week— a Japanese soldier practicing bayonet stabs on a dead Chinese lashed to a post. Twice queried, Associated Press Veterans James A. Mills and Morris Harris swore it was authentic, occurred in Tientsin on September 5.