Private Bedros Sahakian
Journal Entry 39
July 24, 1932, Sunday
Yesterday our company managed to advance and secure the main bridge in our sector without a shot being fired. Believe me that's a miracle in itself.
We found discarded weapons, torn cigarette packs amongst the fixed positions.
The worst part however, was in the Soochow creek itself. We could smell it before we even looked down into the water.
Bodies, so many bodies, blackened and swollen drifting down the river. There were men, women and children in those waters.
The smell, oh the smell. I can't even begin to describe it.
Just thinking about those bodies makes me sick in more ways than one.
I have seen so much death and madness in this battle yet that sight we saw underneath the bridge was the worst yet.
Gunny got us back to work fixing the barricade in case of enemy counter-attack. To fight off the stench in the creek we had to resort to wearing bandannas to cover our mouths and noses.
We have been stuck at this post ever since. Last night we heard screaming nonstop in Chapei just yards from us. It was too dark so we couldn't see where it was happening exactly and our orders to hold position till relief.
It sounded like people, many of them being tortured.
No nightmare I ever had as a child can compare to what I heard that night. Nothing at all.
This morning we saw a squad of General Chuanfang's soldiers. They ignored us entirely and seemed to be on the hunt for something or someone.
For the past few days we heard reports of the League of Eight Provinces getting involved in this fight. At first it didn't make any sense since no troops under any warlord in China are allowed to operate within the international enclaves as agreed back in 1928 conference here.
Well it turns out the Kaiser's men invited this bunch and are in fact leading them. The Krauts claim this is not a violation of the 1928 agreement since the troops are led by Germans, thereby making them 'German' as well.
Imagine the Japanese are raising a big fuss about it and the Municipal Council losing face as a result. But at this point it's all moot.
What we saw next showed us what kind of monsters they are exactly. They dragged out a man in a Kuomintang uniform onto the street.
He spat at them and they knocked him down and beat on the guy like he was a dog. Then they tore off the KMT fighter's shirt then tied him to a nearby lamp post.
Their leader looked back to our position and waved and shouted something in his dialect. Very quickly we learned what he was so excited about.
He pulled a long blade and began to slice at their captive's chest and legs, eliciting screams each time the blade made a cut. They laughed and mocked his suffering, forcing us all to watch.
It was lingchi, better known in English as death by a thousand cuts. Mr. Guao told me about this practice.
He said this torture method had been in official use by the imperial dynastys for a thousand years until 1905. It usually was reserved for the most hideous of criminals in society such as mass murderers and traitors.
It was meant for public humiliation as much as ensuring a slow agonizing death.
He and many in this country condemned the practice as barbaric and wicked.
Guao had quoted a poet named Lu You in the 12 century who said of the practice.
'It affects the harmony of nature.'
It's one thing to hear about it but a whole nother to see such a gruesome thing.
Most, including myself, were too stunned and horrified at the sight except Gunny. Instead he looked on in full contempt at the warlord troops.
Shamefully one of our marines, Ian Diller shouted that the rebel deserved it and cursed him. Gunny shut up Diller quickly with a punch to the face, reprimanding him in the strongest terms.
He got the message and was pulled out of the line.
The Kuomintang staged this uprising with the Syndicalists that had killed our comrades in these past two weeks. Nor have we forgotten what some of the Reds did to the dead police officers we found in that station.
I thought of how Robert and John would be alive if it wasn't for them. A part of me wants these rebels to pay for what they took from us.
Yet seeing that partisan continue to be tormented like that I couldn't stomach it. What our so-called allies were doing to him was evil.
So I took action. Aiming down the sights, I pulled the trigger and shot the captured rebel in the chest and he finally stopped screaming.
That shot took those uniformed thugs off guard. They immediately turned to our position, yelling in outage, no doubt complaining about being denied their 'fun.'
I don't care what that scum thinks.
Michail and the Gunny swifty got on my case for firing without orders and not to do so again though they understood why I did it. Regardless, I accept whatever disciplinary action they will have in mind for me.
Not proud of that shot. Not proud at all.
Killing him wasn't a mercy like some may think. What I did was only granting a more swift execution.
A real mercy would've been to have stopped the torture and take the gurriella alive into custody but our company wasn't in the mood for risking our lives for an enemy.
Even so, no one shouldn't suffer like that, not even our enemies.
They took their leave and left the dead KMT fighter hanging on the post.
Hours later a group of refugees started heading toward us. Mostly women, childern and one old man.
They were carrying or dragging whatever they could. Baskets, packs and a group of women were even pulling one wagon carrying the old man
We stayed on alert in case of a trick but the closer they came, the more we saw what was done to them.
Many of them had been beaten and some of their faces disfigured. I dare not write the description of the latter, not even in this journal.
What I saw is seared in my mind already and I don't want further reminders.
Shang arrived in time thankfully to act as interpreter when the refugees came closer. He was able to find out these people were originally from Chapei.
They lost their homes due to the fires caused by the fighting. What's worse, they encountered General Chuanfang's men.
Just about all of their men and older boys were taken away and hadn't been seen since. The only man they didn't take was the elder they had with them because the thugs thought he was already dead from the beating he was given.
He hasn't been able to walk for days and doesn't look like he'll last another week quite frankly.
Entire families were found mass murdered and their property looted.
After we checked them we let that bunch go
These soldiers loaned to the Krauts are not men but beasts. Only vicious beasts inflict such crimes.
It makes me absolutely sick we're technically on the same side. Well I don't claim them as allies.
The Krauts better keep them away from our sector.
With all that is happening I couldn't help but recite the hymn written by the priest Gomidas Vartabed years ago. Given the tragedy engulfing Shanghai it is appropriate.
Der voghormia, Der voghormia, Der voghormia, Der voghormia.
Amenasoorp Yerortootyun, door askharhis khaghaghootyun.
Yev hivantatz pujhushgootyun, nunchetselots arkayootyun.
Translation; Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. All Holy Trinity, give peace to the world.
And healing to the sick, heaven to those who are asleep.