Chiang Kai-shek celebrated his 50th birthday (by the Chinese way of counting) in October 1936. To mark the occasion, every schoolchild in the country - or in those parts not already occupied by the Japanese army - was instructed to contribute 15 cents, and every teacher one dollar, to help purchase fighter planes from the US. A new spirit of patriotism was stirring as Japan continued its creeping aggression in the north. Army recruits were given lectures on 'The Coming Sino-Japanese War' and 'How to Make Sacrifices'.

LRB 18 March 2004 | PDF Download