Sign over American Embassy in China. Colonel William Mayer, former military attache in that embassy relates events precipitating Second Sino-Japanese war. Scenes of the Marco Polo bridge near Peking, on night of July 7, 1937, as Japanese artillery bombards the area. Animated map shows movement of Japanese forces out of Manchuria to occupy Peiping and Tientsin. Victorious Japanese troops stand atop a building, raising their flags and shouting cries of victory. Japanese army officers sit around a table smiling and contended and others walk in a group. Chinese artillery crews are seen retaliating as they fire field pieces at Japanese positions in Shanghai. Shells explode in background, and Chinese infantry advance through damaged buildings and rubble. Animated map shows Shanghai and other cities, and film transitions to view of the bustling city of Shanghai on the Yangtze River. In the seaport, large ocean liners and freighters, as well as tug boats and Junks, are seen. What looks like a Japanese Tachikawa Ki.54 Type 1 transport plane takes off over a Chinese pagoda. Double-decker buses travel through the streets. Rickshaws are also seen. Map outlines the foreign residential areas of the French Concession and the International Settlement. American, British and Japanese flags are shown in the International Settlement. Detachments of troops from Japan, Britain, France, and United States Marines are seen. A U.S. Marine is posted as a sentry at the Shanghai Power Company. Coolies carry heavy bucket on a long pole. British, French and Japanese troops also performed sentry duties. Japanese troops and armored cars are seen. A scuffle breaks out in August, 1937, and Japanese soldiers start moving in trucks, take up firing positions, and begin firing guns from their armored cars. Map shows Chinese counterattack pushing the Japanese contingent toward the Khangpoo River. Next it shows Japanese warships and reinforcements in the Yangtze River and their advance toward Woosung and Shanghai. Views of Japanese warships bombarding the shore and large explosions from their striking shells. Beachhead is shown South of Shanghai, where two divisions of Japanese infantry are seen arriving in landing craft. They advance across the fields toward Shanghai. Map shows Chinese withdrawals to West and South, toward Nanking and Hangchow. Chinese medics along with infantry march in retreat. Japanese pilots are seen being briefed. Next, Japanese Mitsubishi G3M bombers are seen in flight, and bombardiers and other crew in them. Bombs falling on the city. Civilians running for cover as bombs explode. Aichi D3A1 aircraft dropping bombs. The Shanghai waterfront being bombed and civilians running.
July 1960: Russian oil tanker “Peking” at dock in Havana, Cuba. Sailors stand on deck of the ship. Man looks at the Soviet ship through binocular. Car arrives and dignitaries get off. Delegation of People’s Republic of China Federation of Trade Union meet dignitaries of Cuba including President Osvaldo Dorticos Torrado. President Osvaldo and Chinese Foreign Minister Lu Jung sit with other dignitaries and discuss about sugar trade and steel import.
View of the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon, in the United States, during the Vietnam War. Names of the war heroes in the hall. Nameplates of the war heroes of each historical conflict on the wall. Names of the soldiers and officers who served the best in the wars. Names under the nameplates reading: 'Interim Period (1866-1870)', 'Korean Campaign (1871)', 'Interim Period (1871-1898)'. Other nameplates read: 'War with Spain (1898)', 'Philippine insurrection (1899-1913)', 'China Relief Expedition-Boxer Rebellion (1900)'. Several other conflicts mentioned in the hall. Other nameplates read: 'World War I (1917-1918)', 'Haitian Campaign (1919-1920), 'Second Nicaraguan Campaign (1925)', 'Word War II (1941-1945) and 'Vietnam (1964-Present).
A film about the United States President Richard Nixon's visit to Asia and Europe. President Nixon's motorcade on street in Beijing, China. Chinese civilians ride bicycles on street. Pictures of Russian communist leaders Lenin and Joseph Stalin inside a building. President Nixon meets chairman of the Communist party of China Mao Zedong. They talk and shake hands.
American warships in Shanghai, China. An Italian cruiser of the Pisa Class. USS Edsall (DD-219) and USS Bainbridge (DD-246). A light Cruiser with single stack is anchored in the harbor. Numerous U.S. sailors embark on a large motor launch from the U.S. Transport ship, Chaumont. A Chinese Junk sails amidst the clutter of warships. U.S. Sailor at tiller of the motor launch, American flag fluttering in the breeze. Numerous warships in the harbor. Several Chinese Junks sailing in the harbor. The motor launch filled with U.S. sailors, underway.
People’s Republic of China officials at an airfield. A DC-3 passenger aircraft taxis in and parks. United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold hurries down steps of the aircraft and is greeted by Chinese officials. Hammarskjold shakes hands with many of them, and then drives off in a car. The Secretary General is on a mission to secure the release of fifteen American fliers being held by the Chinese, who do not consider them Prisoners of War to be repatriated, following the Korean War. He is seen later at a dinner reception in a hall with many Chinese officials in attendance. Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Secretary General Hammarskjold spend considerable time conversing, with help of translator. They toast with several other officials and appear to have a relaxed and pleasant meeting.