we did not want to go into town
except under pressure of dire necessity, because we thought that the
population was greatly perturbed and that it might take revenge on any
foreigners which they might consider spiteful onlookers of their
misfortune, or even spies.

Father Stolte and Father Erlinghagen go down to the road which is still
full of refugees and bring in the seriously injured who have sunken by
the wayside, to the temporary aid station at the village school. There
iodine is applied to the wounds but they are left uncleansed. Neither
ointments nor other therapeutic agents are available. Those that have
been brought in are laid on the floor and no one can give them any
further care. What could one do when all means are lacking? Under
those circumstances, it is almost useless to bring them in. Among the
passersby, there are many who are uninjured. In a purposeless,
insensate manner, distraught by the magnitude of the disaster most of
them rush by and none conceives the thought of organizing help on his
own initiative. They are concerned only with the welfare of their own
families. It became clear to us during these days that the Japanese
displayed little initiative, preparedness, and organizational skill in
preparation for catastrophes. They failed to carry out any rescue work
when something could have been saved by a cooperative effort, and
fatalistically let the catastrophe take its course. When we urged them
to take part in the rescue work, they did everything willingly, but on
their own initiative they did very little.

At about four o'clock in the afternoon, a theology student and two
kindergarten children, who lived at the Parish House and adjoining
buildings which had burned down, came in and said that Father Superior
LaSalle and Father Schiffer had been seriously injured and that they
had taken refuge in Asano Park on the river bank. It is obvious that
we must bring them in since they are too weak to come here on foot.

Hurriedly, we get together two stretchers and seven of us rush toward
the city. Father Rektor comes along with food and medicine. The
closer we get to the city, the greater is the evidence of destruction
and the more difficult it is to make our way. The houses at the edge
of the city are all severely damaged. Many have collapsed or burned
down. Further in, almost all of the dwellings have been damaged by
fire. Where the city stood, there is a gigantic burned-out scar.