1937-11-01 — Page 10

THE CHINA MAIL NOVEM

1937

CAR MOV MORAB

Canton, In Spite of Air Raids,

Is Behaving Admirably in the Crisis But Wonders

WILL

KWANGTUNG - on

Canton going to be the next present themselves

damaged uniformed

car rolls

soldiers and the Leaving the busier section of the point for the concentration of building with gaping walls and a sand bag protection round the city, one emerges into the outskirts Japan's hostilities in her mad war little further on a huge hole caused station premises there are no in- or where the poorer classes live. of aggression against China? Is by an exploding bomb as it fell dication of the danger which faces The streets are just as crowded and ives along troops are always in evidence. the fate that is overtaking Shang- close to the track and tore down a the city, and as one

to one of the numerous hotels Now an

the crowds, hai to be repeated in the most im- railway signal post with the

which do business in Canton, one slowly through portant city of South China to-day? plosion.

cannot but be impressed with the while military lorries packed with These are the questions that are

The train rushes on, more stolid courage of the inhabitants troops rattle past on their way up occupying the minds of the military

Hoi and administrative authorities in soldiers board it and the coaches as they pursue their daily routine further north.

Half a mile down North With roar it of life. Canton at the moment and while are now packed

A leisurely drive through the Ching Road the first ghastly picture the whole world hopes and prays passes a ruined station. Nam Sha,

that which was bombed on Oct 25 In city will furnish the visitor with of bombed ruins comes into view— that the bloody slaughter has been taking place in Shanghai the fleeting glance permitted them, bare and the north will not be witnessed passengers see only a few over again in Canton, there is a de- roofless walls standing in the place the railway buildings finite fear that the Japanese lust which for power will carry the present occupied conflict to the south.

The objective of the

BE NEXT?

the

Japanese airmen was, of course, evidence of the wanton destruction a block of ten houses occupied by Canton has already tasted of the Sheklung Bridge, a little further on, caused by Japan's messengers of the more humble class of shop- bitterness of Japan's policy, and as the train rattled over this, war as they took their toll of keepers had been razed to the with anti- human life and damaged property ground. A few beams and pillars Frequent raids by bombing and military units armed

preparations which the stood skeletonlike to bear testimony machine-gunning planes have taken aircraft guns were noticed at both The

authorities have made to meet these of the ruthless destruction that has place since hostilities started. And ends.

neighbouring A few minutes later, after a raids are also noticeable on all taken place, while yet, in the face of a position which

In North Taai Bing Road, buildings which had withstood the is fraught with anxiety, the visitor brief half, the express pulls out of sides. who steps off the train at Canton Shek Lung Station, the buildings of where several of the big business effect of the explosion showed cannot but be impressed with the which were heavily protected with houses and hotels are situated, gaping cracks in walls which were Two more bridges, sand bags piled roof high to pro- supported by boardings and calm placidity with which the sand bags. populace is meeting the present similarly guarded by troops are tect the frontages of the buildings temporary scaffolding. All these street is crowded with buildings had been evacuated by Suddenly the train pulls The situation. It is, indeed, not until passed.

pedestrians, while their tenants.. one's eyes light on the sand bag up and a nervous lady passenger - scarrying

The mausoleum erected to protections which have been erect- grabs a light suitcase which lies rickshaws and motor cars. follow ed throughout the city that one re- alongside her seat-but it is only a each other, manoeuvring their way memory of the late Dr. Sun Yat Sen a through the traffic. Soldiers in is next pointed out to the visitor as alises that he has entered a war signal against the express and zone where the risk to life and pro- few seconds later she is on her way uniform are everywhere, some another place where the Japanese Shortly before noon the armed others not. High military airmen had dropped their missiles perty is ever present. This can again. only be accounted for by the new express steams into Canton the officers speed by in cars, while the of death. Four bombs had been spirit of unity and determination journey had been safely completed. lower ranks travel in buses, on dropped here, but only two explod-

quite close to The usual scenes of bustle take cycles or in rickshaws. Every, im- ed one which has gripped the peoples of China to-day and which has helped place on the platform while the portant junction is guarded by mausoleum itself, breaking up the leave that station. armed troops in full war kit and steps and opening up a hole in to keep the morale of not only the passengers fighting forces, but also of the With the exception of numbers of even the traffic cops are provided paved courtyard in front and the other about fifty yards from the mausoleum damaging

consi- civilians at a high standard.

derable portion of the paved road- way running round the shrine. In Tong Wah Road a block thirty-five houses had been molished in the same manner. The death roll here was said to be well over a hundred, while as many were seriously injured by flying shrapnel -

rurblinged y

one

Speak to the inhabitants as

will find no signs of may, one alarm or panic and eye-witnesses of the recent raids by Japan's war planes speak in glowing terms of the admirable manner in which the people conducted themselves.

It

it, in fact, only after investigation that anyone visiting Canton for the

THE

WORLD GOES BY By "ULYSSES”

ON'T you think · (asked

some

shouting met bez

on 24

athe telephone, apparently acting on first time will perceive not only other at Home the other day) it phoner speaks to a telephonee the evidence of the havoc and destruc-would sound better in the Report if other side of the harbour, it is tion caused in the city, but also we substituted the word lady for therefore necessary evidence that the Chinese authori- "woman"*** ties are doing the best they can to

The word "lady" was banned from protect their people from the war!

newspaper columus years ago. machine that is threatening

Hear what Fowler's "Modern Eng humiliate them and take from them lish Usage that authoritatis their sovereign rights and indepenwork which rises from the Oxfo dence.

University Press to head the

to

a

the

de-

Several

houses adjoining this block also show, the damage caused by splin- fers gaping holes in the walls and roofs Here, too, the tenants were of the poorer working classes and The female voice being unforno military positions were situated tunately

emerges at the anywhere near this district. other of the telephone like the

ravished maiden.

and

Walking down a narrow lane roughly paved with blocks of stone. his is some what hard on ear one enters the slum quarter. It is Despite repeated attempts to march of the English language

drums already subjected to um a very crowded district with only isolate Canton from Hong Kong and Kowloon by frequent bombing generation to generation-has to say pressure by the roarings of editors three feet separating the dwellings Families sat about "lady"

and publishers at cowering repor-opposite each other. of the railway, Japan's war planes

Lady' prefixed to names indicat ters who have just been scooped outide their doors on this narrow have so far failed to achieve their

roadway. A sudden break in the objective and with courageous de-ing vocation as a mark of sex (lady for the third successive day.

continuity of the rows of dwellings termination the railway authorities doctor, author, clerk etc.). is a cum-

Will my many female admirers confronts the visitor who sees an- brous substitute for feminine #till continue to maintain com-

female who telephone me constantly, please other picture of the horror "woman". munication.

sigation

destruction which one single bomb The morning express from Kow-would be better than lady red note this appeal?

when loon leaves punctually to schedule to vocation words to indicate social Will the Office Blonde also note can cause in modern warfar daily as do the other trains, though pretensions, such as lady cook, comthe above? She rouses

me from it is dropped in the once the border at Shum Shun is panion etc. the word is a genteel-sleep every morning. Don't misun-closely crowded cluster of build- passed, Chinese soldiery belonging ism.”.

derstand this. I mean she telephonesings.

-The bombing here had taken to various military units board the Fowler's American counterpart me, and instead of the soothing train at stations en route does not even list the word, for the "good morning" which one would place four days previously, but the Gathering speed the express rushes American language is too young expect to be wafted over the wires terrible scene gives one an idea of the horror that must ha taken on its way through fields of rice and virile to carry along with it.

by one so beautiful, com

Slum sion of these lying between hilly slopes and any word that is quite so genteel against which the La

dwelle everything seems peaceful and and stilted

Berene in the brightness of a per- So if the Board do decide to use

would sound a mere penny-w

fect day. Nearly every passenger, lady" they stand convicted by I invariably swoon however, realises that they are Fowler of being genteel

now in the war zone and necks are

craned out of the windows to get Telephone

glimpse of the

vidence of des-

on that Japan's

re long Ro

"first signs bombing of

Shriekers

tin

with joy but fear, ima

be the warning notes, sports model air raid syren.

This, incidentally,

kme when

those urtled eless homes

place one bomb

post

this

old