Lasse:
If that's not sufficient warning, I don't know what would be. Obvioulsy, nothing
would satisfy you, not even giving the time, date and flight plan of the incoming
plane, so they could shoot it down. You want to believe the US is evil, and no one
will talk you out of it. I still invite you to read "Flags of our Fathers" or one of
the other good accounts of the battles at the end of the Pacific war, before you
declare, from a safe distance, that the US should have acted otherwise.
Dan
Lasse Karlsson wrote:
> [This is part 2.]
>
> Did the US issue a fair warning which gave the civilians a chance to escaped from
>injury?
>
> Many posters have claimed that the civilians by distributed leaflets did get a fair
>warning of what they going to be target of. However there is no proof of any
>leaflets or any other warnings being distributed before the bombing of Hiroshima. The
>some 100 000 civilians had no idea of what suddenly was going to hit them.
>
> A few years ago the Smithsonian arranged an exhibition on the bombings, including
>labels containing "historical facts". In a letter to the organizer a great number of
>historians addressed the question of leaflets:
>
> "In yet another label, the Smithsonian asserts as fact that "Special leaflets were
>then dropped on Japanese cities three days before a bombing raid to warn civilians to
>evacuate." The very next sentence refers to the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6,
>1945, implying that the civilian inhabitants of Hiroshima were given a warning. In
>fact, no evidence has ever been uncovered that leaflets warning of atomic attack were
>dropped on Hiroshima. Indeed, the decision of the Interim Committee was "that we
>could not give the Japanese any warning."[10]"
> [End of quote.]
> http://www.doug-long.com/letter.htm
>
> However, there is evidence of leaflets having been produced and possibly distributed
>(although I haven't come across a single instance proving that any civilian ever
>received or read them.) These leaflets, however, were produced a f t e r the
>bombing of Hiroshima, on the 7th or 8th, the latter is only a day before the surprise
>bombing of Nagasaki. (There was an campaign including leaflets, radiotransmissions
>and a newspaper in Japanese, obviously after Nagasaki too, but to what use, I can't
>say.)
>
> When reading the two leaflets, you soon realize, that any claim that they actually
>constitute a fair warning to the Nagasaki civilians can't be taken seriously. The
>leaflets are a general call for surrender and "evacuation of all cities".
> All indications point to the fact that the Nagasaki civilians were completely caught
>by surprise. (Or they would of course not have stayed on as sitting ducks.)
>
> These are the wordings of the two leaflets that I have found:
>
> "TO THE JAPANESE PEOPLE:
> "America asks that you take immediate heed of what we say on this leaflet.
> "We are in possession of the most destructive explosive ever devised by man. A
>single one of our newly developed atomic bombs is actually the equivalent in
>explosive power to what 2000 of our giant B-29's can carry on a single mission. This
>awful fact is one for you to ponder and we solemnly assure you it is grimly accurate.
> "We have just begun to use this weapon against your homeland. If you still have any
>doubt, make inquiry as to what happened to Hiroshima when just one atomic bomb fell
>on that city.
> "Before using this bomb to destroy every resource of the military by which they are
>prolonging this useless war, we ask that you now petition the Emperor to end the war.
>Our President has outlined for you the thirteen consequences of an honorable
>surrendor: We urge that you accept these consequences and begin the work of building
>a new, better, and peace-loving Japan.
> "You should take stops now to cease military resistance. Otherwise, we shall
>resolutely employ this bomb and all out other superior weapons to promptly and
>forcefully end the war."
> EVACUATE YOUR CITIES"
>
> [The second leaflet.]
>
> "ATTENTION JAPANESE PEOPLE" EVACUATE YOUR CITIES
> "Because your military leaders have rejected the thirteen part surrender
>declaration, two momentous events have occurred in the last few days.
> "The Soviet Union, because of this rejection on the part of the military has
>notified your Ambassador Sato that it has declared war on your nation. Thus, all
>powerful countries of the world are now at war against you.
> "Also because of your leaders' refusal to accept the surrender declaration that
>would enable Japan to honorably end this useless war, we have employed our atomic
>bomb.
> "A single one of our newly developed atomic bombs is actually the equivalent in
>explosive power to what 2000 of our giant B-29's could have carried on a single
>mission. Radio Tokyo has told you that with the first use of this weapon of total
>destruction, Hiroshima was virtually destroyed.
> "Before we use this bomb again and again to destroy every resourse of the military
>by which they are prolonging this useless war, petition the Emperor now to end the
>war. Our President has outlined for you the thirteen consequences of an honorable
>surrender; We urge that you accept these consequences and begin the work of building
>a new, better, and peace loving Japan.
> "Act at once or we shall resolutely employ this bomb and all our other superior
>weapons to promptly and forcefully end the war."
> EVACUATE YOUR CITIES "
> http://www.nuclearfiles.org/docs/1945/450806-flyer.html
> = = = = = = = = == = = = = = = =
>
> Someone claimed that the bombings were primarily targeted on military and strategic
>installations. In that case they did a very poor job, in that 95% of the totally
>maybe 200 000 people killed were civilians, mainly women, children and elderly men.
> = = = = = = = == = = = = = = == = =
>
> Was there an intention to kill civilians?
> On page 48, the official Bombing Survey Report says: "Hiroshima and Nagasaki were
>chosen as targets because of their concentration of activities and population."
>
> The following two statements by president Truman, (one before, and one after the
>bombings) also provide some insights:
>
> On July 21, 1948 Truman confided some private thoughts on the atomic bomb to his
>staff. Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission David Lilienthal recorded Truman's
>words in his diary that night, along with Lilienthal's own observations in
>parentheses:
> "I don't think we ought to use this thing [the atomic bomb] unless we absolutely
>have to. It is a terrible thing to order the use of something that (here he looked
>down at his desk, rather reflectively} that is so terribly destructive, destructive
>beyond anything we have ever had.
> You have got to understand that this isn't a military weapon. (I shall never forget
>this particular expression). It is used to wipe out women and children and unarmed
>people, and not for military uses." (David Lilienthal, The Journals of David E.
>Lilienthal, Vol. Two, pg. 391).
>
> President Truman had his misgivings about using a-bombs on cities. Sec. of Commerce
>Henry Wallace wrote in his diary on Aug. 10th, "Truman said he had given orders to
>stop atomic bombing. He said the thought of wiping out another 100,000 people was too
>horrible. He didn't like the idea of killing, as he said, 'all those kids'."
> (John Blum, ed., The Price of Vision: the Diary of Henry A. Wallace, 1942-1946, pg.
>473-474).
> http://www.doug-long.com/index.htm
>
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
>
> For an eywitness by a German priest, which will provide some food for thought, see
> http://www.wtj.com/archives/hiroshima.htm
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
>
> I hope that this post, as well as the links, have been of some interest.
> If anybody has information contrary to the above, you are welcome to mail me in
>private.
>
> Lasse
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