The morning Nishi-Nishi contained an eye-witness account of the shelling of the Santa Barbara coastline in California.
Of course, we didn’t believe it, but we read it just the same The story was written by one of the Japanese lieutenants on board the raiding Japanese submarine.
The raid was timed at night, and when the U-Boat bobbed up off the coast line, there were no signs whatsoever of enemy patrol activity.
The illumination of Santa Barbara could be seen twinkling, while the beacon light of oil-storage tanks and derricks was clearly visible.
When the first shot was fired from the submarine, signs of consternation among the people near the shore were discerned immediately. Those on the U-Boat heard the distant shrieking of the sirens.
Everyone on board completely forgot the hardships they had encountered in making the crossing from Japan when the first shell shattered the stillness of the night, and when the second and third shots set the targets on fire, the entire crew danced with joy.
“I can still remember, said the lieutenant, “the painful bristles on the chin of one of the men who hugged my cheek.”