Analyzing the “Photographic Evidence” of the Nanking Massacre

According to the caption of Photo 61 in RBS, it is a scene of Japanesemilitary men forcing Chinese nationals to construct roads at bayonet point. It, however,turned out to be a reprint of Photo B, which originally appeared on Mainichi-ban shinajihen gahō, no. 23, published on April 1, 1938. The caption to this original photographreads, “[Japanese troops] use the Chinese labor force to repair roads destroyed by theenemy and advance further.” That the soldier circled on Photo B is seen holding acigarette in his left hand suggests that the Chinese nationals did not undertake this workunder coercion.Photo 61: RBSPhoto B: The original of Photo 61 in Mainichi-ban shina-jihen gahō, no. 23, 1 April 1938, p. 16.Its caption says, “Local people who reconstruct roads for our troops.”124