Countdown to War

1931
September 18, 0443H- Japanese engineers, under direct orders from Tokyo, planted explosives near the the South Manchurian Railway in the section near Mukden (Shenyang). The bomb was soon detonated by Lt. Kawamoto Suemori. The railway was destroyed.

September 18, 0511H - A train soon passed over the damaged track. The train soon derailed and tumbled down into the countryside. The train was carrying some petroleum and kerosene cargoes along with Japanese passengers. The petroleum and kerosene cargoes soon was exploded, a few moments after the derailment of the train, causing death to almost 14 Japanese dead and 37 Chinese. Only 5 of the passengers of the train survived.

September 18, 0610H - A Japanese telegraph from Mukden soon arrived to Tokyo. The news was then released into the media.