Dacca Diary – Dec 3, 1971 by WSJ’s Peter R Kann

DACCA Diary from InterContinental Hotel by Wall Street Journal's Peter R Kann

Friday, Dec 3, 1971

Entering elevator in InterContinental Hotel when another reporter runs up to ask, "Have you heard the war is on?" It's just 8pm. Happen to notice sign by elevator: Happy Hours 6 to 8pm. Except Fridays. Rest of evening spent with other journalists clustered around shortwave radio.

Evidently, fighting broke out along the border between West Pakistan and India this afternoon. India says Pakistan started it; Pakistan says India. Who knows? But India has been launching attacks on East Pakistan border for past 10 days. What are you supposed to do when a war starts and the cable office is closed? Play poker. Go to sleep.

Peter R Kann joined the staff of The Wall Street Journal in 1964 to become its publisher eventually. In 1972, he earned a Pulitzer for his coverage of the Liberation War of Bangladesh.