NANKING (from the U.S. gunboat OAHU), December 15 (1937) — “Four days in hell” would be the most fitting way to describe the siege and capture of Nanking
I have just got on the gun-boat Oahu with the first group of foreigners to leave the capital since the attack began. The last thing we saw as we left the city was a band of three hundred Chinese being methodically executed before the wall near the waterfront, where already dead bodies were piled knee-deep.
It was a characteristic picture of the mad Nanking scene of the last few days.
南京，12月15日 1937年（报导自美国炮艇‘欧虎’号）最适当阐述南京被围困与占领的情况就是‘火狱四天’。自攻击开始后，我和第一群逃离首府的外国人一起刚登上‘欧虎’号炮艇。当我们离开该市时，最后看见的是在靠近河边，尸体已堆满高至膝盖的一堵墙前，一群三百名中国人正有条不紊地被处决。这是过去几天来在南京惯见的疯狂场景。
The story of Nanking’s fall is a story of unspeakable fear and confusion among the entrapped Chinese defenders, followed by big terror by the Japanese army which cost thousands of lives, many of them innocent ones.
The Japanese could have completed the occupation of the remainders of the city almost without firing a shot, for most of the trapped Chinese soldiers had thrown away their arms and would surrender. However, they chose the way of systematic extermination.
It was like killing sheep. How many troops were trapped and killed it is difficult to estimate, but it may be anywhere between 5,000 and 20,000.
With the overland routes cut off, the Chinese swarmed to the river through the Hsiakwan gate, which became quickly choked.
南京失陷的故事对于被伏击的中国防御军来说是一个极度恐惧和混乱的故事；接着是日军的大恐怖行动，造成数万人死亡，其中许多是无辜者。
日本人本可以几乎不开一枪就拿下整个城市的其他地区，因为大部分被困的中国士兵已弃械投降；但他们选择了系统化的灭绝行动。
这就像宰杀羔羊一样。被杀害的部队人数究竟有多少难于估计；但也许在五千至两万人之间。
由于陆路通道已被切断，中国人通过下关门向河边蜂拥而至，很快就导致堵塞。
Streets throughout the city were littered with the bodies of civilians and abandoned Chinese equipment and uniforms. Many troops who were unable to obtain boats across the river leaped into the river to almost certain death.
The Japanese … invaded foreign properties, among them the houses of the American ambassador, Nelson T. Johnson.
In the American-operated University Hospital they robbed the nurses of watches and money. They stole at least two American- owned cars, ripping off the flags. They even invaded the camps of refugees, robbing many poor of the few dollars they owned.
平民的尸体及丢弃的设备和制服，在整个城市的大街小巷比比皆是。许多没有成功上船渡河的士兵，直接跳进河里被淹死。
日军掠夺外国人的财产，其中包括美国大使尼尔逊的官邸。
在美国人开办的大学医院，他们抢夺护士的手表与钱财。他们最少偷走两辆美国人的汽车，撕掉车上的旗子。他们甚至入侵难民营，将贫困难民剩下的几元钱也抢走。
This account is based on the observations of myself and other foreigners remaining in Nanking throughout the capture of Nanking
I saw Chinese troops applying the torch to whole blocks of homes and shops around the city walls, dispossessing thousands in an attempt to impede the Japanese attack.
I saw a two-day attack of Nanking’s defenses, which finally softened and crushed Chinese resistance
这是我和其他留下的外国人在南京被占领的整个期间所观察到的实录。
我看到中国军队把在城墙周边整个街区的房屋和商店付之一炬，撵走成千上万人试图阻止日军的进攻。
我看见日军对南京防御的两天攻击，最终软化和击溃中国军队的抵抗。
【英语牛人团】
