Attack on Tientsin, July 1937

I think when we recall the Japanese occupations of Tientsin (Tianjin) and Peking in July 1937 we think of them as reasonably non-destructive. Certainly, after some fighting at the Marco Polo Bridge (Luguochao) and environs central Peking suffered very little damage. I had assumed a similar occupation of Tientsin. However, this photograph from the time indicates that there was some destructive bombing and artillery. I’m afraid i don’t know what this building was but it appears to have been a reasonably large and substantial structure completely gutted…