RESCUED BY ANZACS

WIFE OF A CHINESE

AN AUSTRALIAN GIRL

CAIRNS, 3rd October. In an interview with "The Post" on. his return from Hong Kong last week, ,the Eev. L. N. Watkins referred to therescue of an Australian girl from a miseiablo life among the coolies by the Anzac unit of the Hong Koiig Defence Corps. Queensland files to hand contain an interview with Mrs! Lura Mow, the rescued girl, who returned recently to Caiins Six months ago .Mrs. .W. Lum Mow, who is only 19 years of age, went to China with her Chinese husband, and to her great surprise found out, after her arrival ia China, that her husband was mamed to a Chinese laxly When asked whethei the Piess stoiy that she -was held captive undei iteirible 'conditions, and submitted to frightful cruelties -was correct, Mrs. Mow leplied- "I was not held captive, 1 and when the Salvation Aimy ana Anzaes came to Shekki I went with them of my own free will; It is correct that I lived under wretched conditions, but not in a. hut, as has been stated. The building we lived in was a two roomed dwelling. "Aftei leaving Townsville six months ago with my husband," said Mis. Mow, "I went to Shekki, about ninety miles fiom the Portuguese colony of Macao, whtie foi the fiist time I found that my husband had a Chinese -wife My husband and I remained m Hong Kong foi fouiiaaya prior to going to Shekki, an.d after going, to Shekki I met my husband's .people. It was then I found out everything, and. family quanels began As I could not speak Chinese it was difficult for me to know what was really going on, and my hus band would, not tell me much." Asked was it correct that a fortnight after the child was bom show.is oidered to work in the nee fields like a coolie, and when she objected she was ciuelly beaten, Mrs Mow stated-— "That is not correct, although I lived under;wretched conditions." Mrs Mow stated that-while at Shekki six: Austiahans, with two women ofliceis of the Salvation Ainiy, came to Macao on 3rd September. "They weie aided by a guide and an inteipietei," sho said, "and aftci somo time they les cued me and my baby, the baby having been taken fiom me by my husband's Chinese wife. I did not ask the Anzaes to come to Shekki When they heaia about the whole affair they came there, and I loft of my own accord." Mrs. Mow wont on to tell of .the jealousy which existed as a result of her piesence She stated —"On the third day after our arrival at Shekki my husband's father told us to leave his place, and my husband, his Chinese wife, and myself -went to live in a two roomed house I leccived a very cool leception from my husband's people. My husband's iather took all my husband's possessions and rights trom him, because ho inanicd me, and, not having sufficient money as a result of his fathei's actions, wo then went to livo in two rooms. When we went to live in these two rooms my husband's Chinese wife was veiy jealous of me. I could have left at any time, but the Chinese wife wanted my child, and so did the father, but I would not lot them .have the baby, which is. only a couple of months old. i That'was the reason the Army and the Anzaes loscuod mo. My husband was out of the village when the Army came and took the baby and helped me to pack up. Had my husband been at home at the time there wdiiliS have beon trouble. After I left with my baby trouble arobe between the relations, because the baby was taken away. They came to the place, while the Anzaes "waited outside the village m case troublo arose in rescuing the baby and myself Tiouble arose after I left, because the only giandson had been taken* away. The boat was caught at Macao the same night and I went to Hong Kong and waited till the Taiping arrived At Hong Kong I stayed at one of the Anzaes' homes One of the most unpleasant features was that 1^ could not talk Chinese, and I aid not know what was going on. My Chinese'relations used to talk in their own language, and my husband would toll mo very little," Asked was it correct that two 'Australian women were held captive, Mis Mow stated that that was coirect, but they..were too far inland to be rescued. 1 Members of this leseuo paity, said Mis. Mow, issued a warning to Australian' women who mairy Chinese that thoy should not accompany their .husbands to China. Mrs Mow was asked if it was correct | that while in Townsvillo lecently Com- 1 missioner Maxwell, head of-'the Salvation Army, was told that a local, gnl had disappeared,' ana hei lelatives sought his aid. Mrs Mow said, "Yes. Ft was as a result of Commissioner Maxwell's efforts Wat.l was rescued."