1941-06-20 — Page 9

1.

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 20, 1941

WAR EFFORT REDUCED TO SIMPLE TERMS

ON SOME SMALL, palm-studded island in the south seas to-day, there is a young Englishman speaking in earnest Malay to a group of wondering natives. He is telling them about the war in Europe.

To them it is a strange new story. They can't read and they have never heard of a radio set. They know only the ocean and the beach, the green jungle and the volcanoes. Listening now, they frown and purse their lips, in the hard labour of concentration, trying to picture a white man's war in an unimaginable world.

The foreign Tuan (master) reduces It to basic, primitive pattern. He speaks of food and fishing grounds. Those things, they understand. His own island, he says, is very

small,

but the people nearby across the sea want it. And so there 15 war. A native asks:

"If your island is small, Tuan, can you not take your people to another? There are many is-

lands."

were

"Our hearts are

there." the white man replies.

"We children there, and so were our fathers. Besides, we are proud, We do not flee from our enemies." That, too, they can understand, and the reasons why the white

CAPTAIN

SMILED

AND DIED

A British sea captain who guided survivors of his torpedoed ship in an open boat across the

man must defend his "rice South Atlantic Ocean, fields." How does the war pro- died within sight of land. gress? The Englishman-his name is G. E. P. Collins--descri- bes a blockade, many "prahus' (canoes) surrounding the enemy "island." Thus, he explains the enemy cannot come out to "fish."

" and the land will not feed all the people.

A Poser

"He died with a smile on his lips, saying, 'All's well,' "declar- ed the senior officer, when thirty-nine survivors, torpedoed off the African coast, arrived at

officer.

"CITY OF SOOT"

A bomb which fell in a London area dur- ing the night convert- ed the neighbour- hood into a "city of soot."

Blowing about in dense clouds the soot settled several inches deep

on carpets, clothes and furniture. The next day housewives of nearly 100 flats were clear- ing up.

WED IN

FIRE

RUINS

the Brazilian island of Curupu. Bridal parties arriving

Four British and forty Indians died during the voyage, said the at one of London's Angli- [can churches found it in The day before forty other ruins. It had been des- "But have they no prahus to survivors from the same ship send against yours, Tuan?”

had reached Rio Norte, Brazil, troyed by incendiary after a voyage without food and bombs during the night.

That's a poser. Should he try

to describe a German submarine? They know about aeroplanes. be- cause they have seen Dutch commercial liners, and naval patrol boats, soaring over- head.

But

submarine--a "prahu" that sails under water? he decides that that's

little beyond the a-b-c, to which must confine himself,

a

a

he

water for thirteen days. There were six dead and several wound- ed in the boats.

"Twenty-three days ago

wo were shelled and sunk off the African coast by a Germah raider," said the officer,

"Our eighty-three survivors were loaded into a lifeboat built for fifty-eight and headed for

"They have too few prahus." he says. "And they are not South America," skillful fighters on the sea."

The Islanders nod In com - prehension. But then, they want to know, how Is there any fighting? He reminds them of the aeroplanes they have seen, and goes to work on the des- cription of a bomb.

"It is like a big rock. But when it strikes the ground, it bur and spreads fire. The pieces kill people. Each of these big rocks. when it bursts. is like a small 'goenoeng api' (an volcano.)"

erupting

There is a chorus of "tu illah. tu illah." It is an expression

of surprise, wonderment..

"But, Tuan, the goenoeng apl kills women and children, os well as fighting men. It is so with the big rocks?"

“Face Of A Chief"

He tells them it is so, They.

BRITISH

WOMAN

WITH SERB

GUERILLAS

An Englishwoman is to-day jolting over the

The outer porch was cleared of wreckage, and here, amid stili smoking ruins, with a small table bearing the marriage re- gister and while firemen work- ed with the ladders and axes, the weddings were solemnised by a curate.

Guests at the weddings stood on the steps, only a handful of people finding accommodation in the porch.

The first couple were Mr. Arthur Ernest Oxford and Miss Georgina Ivy Wright, who wore white, and the second

were Corporal Christopher Mor- rison, of the Canadian Forces, and Miss Helen Fowler,

Drawing Room Font

Earlier the vicar had said matins and called banns of mar- rlage from the doorstep.

Two communion services were held in the drawing-room of the vicarage, with the intoning of the celebrant and the singing of the congregation accompanied on the vicar's piano..

took

Three baptisms later place in the drawing-room, with a bowl on a wooden pedestal as a font. Yugoslav countryside as ried out the sacraments from the During the fire, the vicar car-

a dispatch rider for the Lady Chapel, and with the aid of curate and verger, saved" paro-

frown and murmur again. The World's toughest organisachial records from the vestry.

Tuan's enemy is very cruel. They, tion. ask about his "chief," and he pro- duces a large, coloured poster of Winston Churchill. At first, the bowler hat makes them laugh, and then they see the stubborn jaw-line, defiant lips, and the grey, thoughtful eyes. "He has the face of a

G.

has been

For the

Nether-

A button bearing a skull and crossbones on her lapel identi-

·fies her as a member of Serbia's swashbuckling Tchetnike. It is stuffed with polson, because members of his force are növer taken alive,

WANTED TO KICK AND DID

POLICE-CONSTABLE JOSEPH'

These massive Balkon guer-KOLARS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, lands Indies in his own "prahu" rillas are re-enacting the dare- WAS STANDING AT THE for a number of years. When devil role they played in the STREET CORNER MINDING HIS the war started, he went into the World War, and the Nazis have OWN BUSINESS WHEN HE British consulate, in Batavia, to learned that their exploits are SUDDENLY FELT A SHARP assist. Because of his experience not exaggerated"el

KICK ON THE SHINS, with the islanders, he was sent They materialise mysteriously In front of him stood a woman, among them, to explain British from forenty and ambush patrols, sweet and lovely aged about war, alms

--| dynamita tank units, and create twenty-eight. Even to the primitive people, havoc.PA

What's the matter lady are. remote from the possibility of¡ They are armed even in peace- you drunk?' asked Kolars helping, Britain's war effort is time. When war breaks around The answer another kick om extended.

their peasant homes they take an the shins, "mitt oath to die for them

At the police station she refused From then on their Haunts to identify herself but admitted are chver, trees, wolves' dans," that ever since she was a, little "And" among those desperadoes girl she's wanted to kick a police- Tdės ava. Englishwoman. man.

"It's better to have them with us," says Collins, "even if the swar (never" comes as far as the Pacific. If it does, they will be valuable "GAM

Page⚫9

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