FO371-23523 — Page 241

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2.

together with the prisoners of war captured in the

local hostilities, to Shanghai, where they were interned

in the Paoshan camp. This left only the 89 men interned

in the Kwangchi hospital still under the responsibility

of the British missionary authorities.

L

On April 9th, 1939 the whole of the Chinese

wounded soldiers interned in the hospital were formally

liberated by the Japanese military police at Hangchow

after consultation with the mission authorities. The

medical superintendent of the hospital reported that

each men was to be given the choice of (a) a railway

pass to Shanghai en route for his home; (b) to become a

citizen of Hangchow provided that he gives particulars

as to what occupation he will follow; (c) to remain in

the hospital as a convalescent for the time being, and

to learn some trade in the hospital's workshops.

Sturton anticipated that about sixty men would be left

on the hospital's hands for some time to come by this

arrangement, but they would be free to go about, subject

to the rules of the hospital and the ordinary Chinese

civil code.

5.

Dr.

The real reason behind this somewhat surprising

act of generosity on the part of the Japanese authorities

is undoubtedly the fact that the majority of the soldiers

in question are likely to be permanently disabled and

unfit for further active service. The hospital

authorities will however, doubtless be glad to be freed

at least from the responsibility of having a large

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