T & THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1946.
ESCAPE FROM HONG KONG PEACE CONFERENCES
-d
on
as
rs
sleeves.
(Continued from Page 3)
611 board
of
Channel
tries. After this I had no idea where armed guerillas dashed I was to go, but as my escort boarded and we weighed anchor and were one of the buses I got on at the other off. At last we began Nend and kept sharp look-out for freely but,
to breathe the sign that I was to alight. Where we only sailed across Three Fathoms to our disappointment, my escort got off I was to expect to see my guide, for the first time in Chung. Here we
Cove to another village called Sam my life.
stayed for 1wo I was to recognise him by more days and nights and, as it was he the fact that he was to be wearing a only one more day to Chinese New C. close-fitting brown woollen cap and Year, we almost gave up hope
a grey Chinese tunic with half an reaching Free China. Late in the inch of white shirt showing at the afternoon of the sixth day after the start of my journey, however. we Past The Air Port
with We proceeded as far as
weighed anchor, and,
a full Kowloon load of people and merchandise, we on Tong, and when my escort alighted I started to sail down Tolo Channel. er- at once spotted the guide talking to
Near the mouth of the a mutual
friend. My instructions we anchored at about 10 p.m. We were to follow him at a distance of then spent about the most all about 30 yards. A paper was thrust fortable night that I can ever
into my hand containing
request member. There were 17 people, to visit a hypothetical patient on Tap with luggage, crammed Mun island, and I started off in the small well at the stern of the junk. wake of my guide who took the road The floor space was approximately which led towards Kai Tak airport. 36 square feet, so there was little d. The guide, who had been twice over more than 2 square feet per person le, the road, had already ascertained at
I think very few of us slept ay what points Japanese sentries were
more than a few moments that on posted, and at what
times they night. At the crack of dawn we ed changed guard, The guards at the
were off again, and soon came in st entrance to the air port changed duty mouth of Tole Channel. At last we sight of the pretty islands at the at 8 a.m. and it was planned that we sighted Tap Mun. the island home should pass by at that time, when of my mythical patient. Fortunate- presumably the soldiers would be somewhat less intent on scrutinising the letter summoning me
ly I never had occasion to produce the passers-by.
long and
he he
d-
2-
d
ry
and
unusual
uncom-
re-
into the
on this outcall, and
I
"No Impossible Problems In Pacific"
FRASER IN AMERICA
Mr Fraser said he wanted such a conference immediately to fol- low the Paris Conference which would draft the peace treaty for the war in Europe.
SWORD SURRENDERED
Japanese Commander At Malaya Ceremony
SERVICE CHIEFS PRESENT
Washington, Feb. 25.
One of the highest ranking New Zealand's Premier, Mr Japanese officers in South-east Peter Fraser, who is stopping to Asia General Itakgaki, Comman- confer with United States offi- der of the 7th Area Army, em- cials while en route home from bracing Malaya, Java, Sumatra, London, said he hoped the peace the Andaman and Nicobar Islands conference for the Pacific War and parts of Siam and Borneo, could be held late in 1946 or has formally surrendered to the General Officer Commanding in early in 1947.
Chief, Malaya Command, General Messervy, at a ceremony at the Command Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, witnessed by a large gathering of Service chiefs.
Be-ribboned, greying Itakgaki, Mr Fraser foresaw "no im- at the head of a line of his staff possible problems in the Pacific. officers was marched on to the There will be problems, naturally. parade ground and halted be- China has her many
problems. tween the lines of British and There are others problems of organising the so- his position at a flag-draped table concerning Indian guards to come to atten- trusteeships. There are also the tion as General Messervy took up
economic cial,
and
him political and called on
in a loud stability of all Asia."
voice to surrender his sword.
The Premier
At a slow halting pace, the Ja- The plan worked perfectly, and the rather doubt whether the Japanese opinion that one of the greatest Danese commander advanced
expressed the
to le incoming guard marched past us a of few moments before we reached the would have considered it authentic! Europe would be the stripping of the table bearing his sword, en- I was instructed, in a note handed Germany of its machinery. cased in a colourful cloth bag r-entrance to the airport. I mingled to me by my second guide, to send "There is grave danger of Ger. tied with purple ribbon,
with the crowd coming and from the busy market in Kai
going back to my friends a written mess- Road and, turning my face
Tak age after passing the island of Tap away Mun in safety. I scribbled the fol- from the sentries as they
were lowing message on a piece of paper: actually changing guard, shuffled "Patient slowly by dragging my old umbrella. ticipate
on island is well. An- Mr Fraser said he planned to satisfactory From here on
progress. the progress was The star
discuss with the U.S. Secretary of (*) was a pre-arranged State (Mr James F. Byrnes) the Ayabe, former Chief of Staff of almost too easy. The morning was signal indicating my name and con- ir- an ideal one for an escape as the hills tinued safety. I handed the note to
problems of Pacific peace and the 7th Area Army, would hand were enveloped in a low-lying mist my guide, and over a year later
the trusteeships of territory and one could see less than a few learned that the message had been taken from the Japanese.-United P. Jones, C.B.E., M.C., the Gen- over their swords to Brigadier C. hundred yards ahead. My one fear safely delivered. was that I might lose sight of my
eral's Staff Brigadier, at Malaya From Tap Mun we steered north- guide as we passed through the east across Mirs Bay towards Peng
Command. crowded market that had sprung up Chau Island and then almost due on Kai Tak Road. My guide was north to Sha U Chung. I carried a still about 30 yards ahead of me small watch-chain compass in my rt when he took the road that leads up waist-coat pocket and, sewn into my to Customs Pass. There was a party inside parts, I had a map of the of soldiers billetted in the Kowloon whole area, extending as far north Later we picked up a small sailing Malaya, Southern Siam and Dairy Farm building on this road, as Kukong, which I had cut out of but. although we could hear their a Postal Atlas. These two things I voices as we passed by, they had not were of the utmost value during the yet come out, fortunately, on to the rest of the journey, and I still count road.
them among my most treasured
ay
IF.
ed
(s)
en
S
h-
of
At Customs Pass there were no possessions. sentries and we took the left fork
"
ld leading round the back of Kowloon
Sighted By Plane Peak. A little further
During the we On
day we were con- branched off to the right along the stantly scanning the seu for signs of rt stone footpath leading to the fishing Japanese patrol boats. Once a down low village of Sai Kung. From this point Japanese plane swooped onwards I caught up with my guide over our junks and we hurriedly and walked along with him. After took shelter in the well of the boat, a- a few miles had been covered
nothing happened. Whilst - fell in with about ten armed guerit passing Feng Chau we were fired
on, but this could be regarded little more than a friendly salute from those redoubtable islanders. At
st
ut
to
ke
las and from here onwards
but
We
they
went with us. We reached Sai Kun
ed about 11 a.m. and I was taken round by a back way to a temple on the outskirts of the village as here were supposed to be some agents of Wang Ching-wei in the village. I was er secreted in a small room in the tem ple for about three hours and here I received some welcome refreshment.
as
Ite
C.
he
e
to
r
Robbed by Lone Bandit
into
a
as
noon of Chinese New Year's Day,
it.
many being denuded of her ma- chinery. If this is done, she will become a pauper nation."
Press.
The boat was a disappointment and broke down repeatedly, with the re- sult that at length we decided to walk and we actually covered about half the distance to Lulong on foot.
one arm.
under
After saluting, he offered the sword across the Union Jack, after which General Messervy an- nounced that the remaining 12
headed officers,
by General to
Itakgaki took up his command in Malaya in April, 1945, and he was responsible for the streng-
of thening
the defences of the
island outposts.
boat and made somewhat quicker progress. Two days before reaching Lolong I was able to send a telegram to the British Ambassador in Chung king telling him of my escape and asking him to inform my family in Australia, and at the same request my wife to cable out some much needed money. On the way up we ran into two or three parties of men who had excaped from North Point and Shamshuipo camps and DANISH KING BETTER were delighted to make their ac- quaintance and to hear their stories. Some of them, I am glad to say, are back in Hong Kong again at the pre- sent moment.
Ilakgaki was formerly Com- mander-in-Chief of the Japanese Army in Korea and before the war he was Chief of Staff of the Japanese Expeditionary Force in time to China.
He has also been War Minister.
After reaching Lolong we felt, for the first time, that all risk was over. We had reached a point where motor
was
re-
Copenhagen, Feb. 26.
It was officially announced to- day that King Christian's condi- tion has improved.-United Press.
at the Hosai Hospital I could literal- ly say that I was penniless. I shall never forget the warmth of the wel-
I come which received. nor the luxury of lying on a real bed again after sleeping for three weeks on bare boards, boat decks and stone floors.
After three hours I was taken up to the school on the hill and here, to my surprise, was ushered room where Messrs Marsman
and We spent the night at a dilapida- Lavrov and two of their Chinese col- led inn in the bombed and burned y, leagues were waiting. It appeared village of Sha U Chung. Our even F that they had decided to leave Honging meal consisted of rice and dried y Kong on the same day as myself and octopus, but I felt that I had never
had come out by the same road anWe slept on bare boards in a burn- engineering
fared better in the best of hotels. hour after me. Later in the after-ed out loft but at least noon we were escorted by the
we slept guerillas across the hills to a little
soundly. The next morning we all shaved (with my razor!) for the village at the back of Ma On Shan first time in eight days, and then of Lolung, was willing to come with time and some had been robbed by called Ki Ling Ha. It was nightfall held a council of when we reached here and we spent whether we should proceed in
war to decide me to Kukong, but, as the journey the night in a fisherman's cottage.
a seemed a straightforward one, I pre- Early the next morning we board- single party or in two separate vailed upon him to return to his ed a junk and spent the whole day parties. Chance had thrown us to- village and there to await the money in anticipation of getting away, but gether, and my plans had all been which I promised to send him as In Chungking I went to see the all day we did not move. Moreover party of two could make good speed tralia. I have
made on the assumption that a soon as my funds arrived from Aus-
British Ambassador, Sir Horace Sey- my guide had disappeared; he had and would attract
already mentioned mour, and Mr Han Lih-wu, of the stayed behind in Sai Kung, and I The addition of Marsman
little attention. that I was not allowed to carry any Sino-British Cultural Association. began to fear the worst. Tu
and his money, as my guide paid for all the As a result of conversations make three friends made the
with r-things still worse we had a very un-
party six expenses of the journey in keeping them, and with the Chinese Minis- ed pleasant experience
strong, which meant slower during the
going with the agreement made before deter of Education, I returned almost ng second night. The guerillas and the my guide was the
and more publicity. However, as parture from Hong Kong. He kind- immediately to Kukong. via Kwei-
only crew of the junk slept on
man who ly gave me two hundred dollars to yang and shore, knew the country right up to Ku-
Kweilin, carrying relief leaving only the five of us who were kong,
cover the journey to Kukong, which money for the students from British refugees to sleep on the boat.
eventually decided
to seemed to me ample at the time. It Government funds. Eventually stick together.
was with regret that I said good-bye Hong Kong University Relief Com- About 3 a.m. I was awakened by We proceeded on foot as the blinding light of an electric torga Waichow. The weather
to this man, who carried out his mittee was set up under the chair- shining in my face and the
ex-greement to the full, both in the manship of Mr Han Lih-wu, and, at letter and in the spirit. I could not the request of the British Ambassa-
as my limited knowledge of Man- the work which had already been darin and his Cantonese and Hakka begun, with the result that I have dialect helped us, but in all the es- still not been able to pay the long projected visit to Australia to see my children who were evacuated to Melbourne in 1940.
length, about 4 p.m. on the after- February 17, 1942, after a week of transport was available and there travelling we landed on the shore of
was a well-made road leading to our Sha U never again experience
Chung. I think I shall
immediate destination of Kukong. quite
At the
Lolung, we parted thrill of realising
company. that
Marsman, Lavrov and their one stood on
at last we free ground and
maining Chinese friend had an op- were breathing the invigorating air of portunity of travelling by private freedom. The feeling was quite in- describable and I shall never forget I proceeded by the somewhat more car to Kukong, so they went ahead.
There is no time to tell the story tedious transportation offered by a
of the rest of my experience in my first salt truck. It
ex-China. It had been my intention, the devious methods perience of
after making arrangements for the necessary for obtaining the privilege escaped students in Chungking to
crowded mass of joining the
of proceed to Australia to see my humanity on one of these trucks, and family and there to join the R.A. I shall always be grateful to a young M.C. On my way up to Chungking, student of Lingnam however, I repeatedly met small University who initiated me into the parties of students asking for ad- technique. My guide, whose home vice and help. Nearly all of them was at Ng Wah, a little to the East were coming to China for the first
bandits, whilst others, were short of money and clothes and nearly all were at a loss as to how next to proceed.
he
-
14
was
we
far
was
as
a
sight tremely cold and there was actual understand his speech, except so far dor, I temained in China to continue
on
of the barrel of a revolver pointed a fairly thick covering of snow straight at my head. It arst time I had been confronted with very glad that I had sewn
the the hills above Sha U Chung. 1 felt
an old
8- this particular type of situation and goatskin into my raincoat (with in-
I must say one feels in rather a weak terrupted silk sutures made with asential and fundamental things we position to be suddenly awaked out curved surgical needle the night be- had a perfect understanding and I of a confused sleep to face such cu- fore my cumstances flat on one's back! The through beautiful country, and some
departure). We passed shall never forget his service. lone bandit, as he proved to be. of it reminded me forcibly of parts robbed us each in turn of wrist of Surrey. If it had not been for the watches, fountain pens and
money. circumstances of our journey we
ot
e
y
n
r
y
21
←
2-
Journey To Kukong On the journey to Kukong was the inevitable breakdown
there of
Future of University Ultimately some 346 Hong Kong University students, out of a total student body of about 600. made their way into Free China, of whom no fewer than 319 continued their studies at 17 different Chinese Uni- nights' versities.
I only lost my fountain pen: I had no could have imagined ourselves on money and my Rolex wrist watch somewhat strenuous walking
a the truck and I had to transfer to was pushed above
tour. another vehicle, with the result that my elbow and The hospitality of the villagers was my money ran out, and I had only covered by a bandage over
skin amazing. We met with nothing but enough to pay for the two generously painted with curochrome.
mer- the utmost kindness, courtesy and lodging. I should have gone hungry The lonely robber then generosity at their hands. We were dropped from the side of our
for two days if it had not been for My time has already gone and I into a waiting boat and was
junk still somewhat apprehensive of run- the courtesy of two young middle- shall not attempt to tell the story of away into the darkness. poleding into parties of Japanese soldiers, school students who insisted that I the Hong Kong University students I in China, as that has already been should join them at their meals. was able to converse with them as told in full elsewhere. But I think
and they spoke goud Mandarin little English. The road took
Guide Turns Up
us
of
as we were skirting an area occupied by them to the west, and most of the On the following morning my per-villages we passed through had been manent guide turned up. I recognised ravaged by them. The compass and him at once by the fact that he was the map were constantly in use to through some magnificent scenery, carrying my suitcase and a bundle check up on our position. Our guide, and it was my first experience containing my Jaeger sleeping bag. however, knew the country like In the meantime very heavy wea- book and took
For ther had sprung up and
we were areas where we should undoubtedly scenic beauty it would be difficult to con- have been held up without his as imagine anything finer than some of overtaken sistance.
the mountain passes
traversed by this motor-road.
us safely
a the wonderful job of war-time road
in China. through making carried out
that the Alma Mater has every rea- sons and son to be proud of her daughters, and I have a strong con- viction that, out of the endurance and determination of the war-time life of generation of students, the the University has not only been maintained, but will blossom into a more vigorous growth in the not far distant future. (Applause). parties, or pounced upon from the
Rotarian F. F. Duckworth sea by naval patrols. At length.i
We reached Wai Chow after five We reached Kukong on the even-pressed the thanks of the Club to about 4 p.m. on the afternoon of the strenuous days of walking and founding of March 2, the third day after the speaker. As an ex-internee in fourth day, there was a great com that the town had been raided by leaving Lolung. It had taken me Stanley, he said, he had known both motion in dashed about excitedly
village. Villagers the Japanese the day previously. twenty days to complete the journey Messrs Marsman and Lavrov.
and soon Gunboats had apparently come up from Hong Kong, and at last I was he could say that many of the in- there was a general exodus from the river from Canton and had shell- able to get into touch with friends ternees were alive to-day because of
still delayed at Ki Ling Ha, stantly in fear of being from the rear by Japanese searchi
the
Reach Wai Chow
the
ex-Stary
ex-
and
in-
the village of men, women and chil-; ed parts of the town killing some whom I knew. I had one remaining the good work of members of Hong dren, all carrying bundles and loads 2,000 people. We accordingly cut National dollar, and this I spent Kong University. Especially Pro- of every description
fessor Digby, them. Within a few moments
away
with our stay there as short as possible crossing the North River by a sam-
a debt of gratitude the and booked passages on a river boat pan, so that when I landed at the ternees owed crew of the junk and about a dozen going up the East river to Lolung. house of my friend Dr S. H. Moore which they would never forget.
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