In January 1939, a platoon* of Japanese soldiers at the River Han was expecting a night attack by the Chinese Nationalist forces. The platoon commander instructed the sentries to shoot without challenge. One of the sentries later gave the following account.
In the darkness the sound of dogs barking far away was eerie. Early in the morning there was a loud rustling in the grasses beyond the fog-covered embankment. However much I looked, I could see nothing. Shoot! I got off two shots, and heard a pained shout, "I've been hit!" I was shocked when I found that I had wounded the company commander and two fellow soldiers. If I had downed the enemy, I would be considered a hero, but now I was in for a court-martial.
一九三九年一月,漢水旁一排*日軍預料中國國軍乘夜來襲,哨兵奉排長命令,不用發口令就開槍。一個哨兵後來寫了以下一段記事。
在黑暗之中,遠處狗吠,聽來都陰森可怕。黎明時,大霧籠罩的河堤之外,草叢傳來響亮的沙沙聲。我窮盡目力,都看不到什麼。開火!我連開兩槍,聽見一聲慘叫:「我中槍了!」原來我槍傷了連長和兩個同袍。我非常驚恐。假如擊倒的是敵軍,我會成為英雄,但現在我得上軍事法庭了。
*根據軍隊編制,platoon(排)隸屬於company(連)。Company之上是battalion(營)、regiment(團)、brigade(旅)、division(師)、corps(軍)、army(軍團)。