1938-10-21 — Page 4

ruge

THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 21, 1988. CAM ATHO ENT

Missionary's Story Of Canton Two Days Ago

"GENERAL OPINION IN CANTON IS DIVIDED AS TO WHE- THER FIGHTING WILL ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE IN THE CITY, OR WHETHER THE DEFENDING CHINESE FORCES WILL WITHDRAW ALONG THE OUTSKIRTS IF THE JAP- ANESE GET THAT FAR; THE GENERAL MORALE OF THE PEOPLE IS VERY GOOD; CHINESE TROOPS- AND SUPPLIES HAVE BEEN PROCEEDING TO THE FRONT IN A STEADY STREAM AND IT IS FELT THAT THE CHIN- ESE TROOPS WILL LIVE UP TO THEIR FINEST TRADI- TIONS," AN AMERICAN MISSIONARY WHO 'PREFERS TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, WHO ARRIVED FROM CANTON YESTERDAY TOLD THE "CHINA MAIL” THIS MORNING.

The missionary, left by tow-the bus-fare is only $3.00 both in boat to Shekki early on Wednesday National currency.” morning. The boats are so crowd ed that for safety and utility, they are being lashed together and the trip to Shekki is therefore slow. It was not until nearly 6.30 am. on From a Hong Kong-trained doc- Thursday that Shikki was reached. cor, who had just left Sheklung, he "At Shekki," he said, "there is a learned that that city had been continual influx of refugees from all severely bombed. The doctor had over the Pearl River Delta and all lost all he possessed and his wife buses to Macao are crowded to was in a hysterical state for some capacity, Passengers on our buses time owing to the frightful ex- were apprehensive of Japanese aero-periences she had undergone. planes, but our trip was quite un- eventful.

LITTLE PROFITEERING

favourite form of transport on the Shekki-Macao road is the bicycle. Hundreds of these vehicles are be ing utilised.

"I was particulafly pleased to note that there is little profiteering, Sampan ples and coolies are charging tant rates but the tow-boat fate remains at $1.10 and

AERIAL TRIP OVER YANGTSE

WAR ZONE &

Renter's Special

pondent)

Kiukiang, To-day.

the

Questioned about Canton, missionary said t

like Hong Kong it was difficult to obtain any reliable information.

CANTON ESCAPES BOMBINGS

Although Japanese planes appear- ed over the city frequently while I was there and the air-raid alarm was continually shrieking, the re- gidents of Canton are not unduly worried and take little notice of the planes that fly overhead, dropping leaflets.

"There does not appear to have been much bombing in Canton it- self. Anti-aircraft batteries are very active whenever planes appear ind are driving them away,

"I have been able to establish hat senior Canton officials have not left the city, although met of the non-combatants have or aro

eaving.

POK LO ONCE CLEARED "Reports that have filtered in 'rom the front have it that the Chinese forces did temporarily re- capture Walchow, but more on blow to Japanese morale than any- hing else. They made little effort to hold it, and it is now definitely In Japanese hands. --

as a

Reopening of the Yangtse to

"It is also said that Fok Lo whs general, shipping is a question cleared of Japanese, who were which we shall consider as soon driven across the East River by its the situation clears up in re-

the Chinese forces which are now lation to the campaign which is gathered at the front in consider now being carried on." declared able force and occupy defence lines Vice Admiral Olkawa, Command running through Tsengshing. *der-in-Chief of 'the Japanese The Chinese have recovered

Reet in China, interviewed aboard his flagship near Kinklang by party of foreign newspaperme spectally brought by the Japan- ese army and navy.

Y

In other words," he added, "the question is directly connect- ed with future developments in the campaign.

Vice-Admira

Oikawa - claimed

that although a few Ja

'tels had best dama

gle worship had bee uk since

the start of the

Chinese action.

result

KKPLANE VIEW:

Before the interview, the foreign newsmen had Lown.: over Hwang shihkang, considered by the

panese "the" - only formidable-

z.of their.

stacle in

Hankowgu

claimed that turod

hich

somewhat from the initial shock of the invasion and it is felt that the troops will put up a good show," concluded the missionary.

ANOTHER HOPE DISPELLED

Canton, To-day. The battle for Canton is ex- pected to be fought out in the vi- cinity of the White Cloud Moun- tain, bangath which the Chinese have erected formidable fortificas tions, Including machine-gun nests, and Centrote Il-buxen. ** Artillery bøen, positioned ́in ke:mountain.

thin

The region ve to over- numerous "machine-guns ties have com-

Afteen miles-radius

and forth-east of Canton, ávaťshteo, förmidable 200 lines): it is learned. -- Our

STOP PRESS

Shanghai, To-day. It is reliably learned that the Generalissimo, Chiang K-1-nhek, is preparing to leave Hankow, though no data has been fixed for his departure. It is, however expected at any moment-- Bou ter.

33993

Some well-informed sources in Hong Kong still doubt the accur- Boy_of_reperts of an actual entry of Japanese troops into Canton, though all reports from other sources are confirmatory.

One foreign source says 'that an agent in Canton informed him -at '5:80 p.m. that'a generál exodus had begun in Canton, that fires were- blazing in several parts of the city and that there was every indica tion that the Chiasso had no inteni- tion of defending Canton. He did not however make any reference to a Japanese entry.

Japanese sources are still lack- ing confirmation.

201

**RACIME