On November 24 , 1937 , Japanese forces bombed Changsha . The city was now on the fighting front of the war . Despite the American consul 's pressure to evacuate , Greene remained to treat wounds of civilians . As military personnel and refugees from Japanese-controlled cities inundated Changsha , Greene opened new dispensaries and clinics . By December , both Yale-in-China and authorities in Changsha were urging all foreign families out of China , must urgently the women and children . Ruth and the children took refuge in Manila , The Philippines , while Greene remained in the war zone . A first-hand account of conditions in January 1937 is given by Greene 's first cousin , Lois Greene MD , an ear , nose , and throat specialist , in the " Inside China " column of The Stanford Daily . In February 1938 , bombings of Changsha escalated . Greene sent most nursing and medical students away to Kweiyang , and kept the most advanced students to keep the hospital in operation . By November 1938 , Greene was the sole remaining doctor in Changsha . During the 1938 Changsha Fire , Greene and his colleagues were able to keep the militants from burning down the hospital as well . Greene stayed in Changsha to treat burn victims . He was then responsible for the transport of medical supplies to the Chinese interior . Despite his train being bombed , Greene successfully brought medicine from Shanghai to Changsha and continued to treat outbreaks of disease there
1938 Changsha Fire
1938 Changsha fire
Phillips Foster Greene