UNDER FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 30, 6 February 1939, Page 5

UNDER FIRE.

MISSION DIRECTOR;

VISIT TO CHINA.

FIGHTING IN CANTON AREA. BOMBING RAIDS COMMON. Exciting mid trying experiences during his visit to China were recounted this morning by the Rev. P. X. MacDiarmid. M.R.E.. director of missions of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. who. with Mrs. MaeDiarmid. returned by the Mariposa after an absence of five months. They escaped with their lives when Japanese 'planes bombed and machine-gunned the party with which they were travelling in the Canton district. Mr. and Mrs. MaeDiarmid were fortunate in being able to obtain transport from Canton. They eventually reached Hongkong via Shekki and Maccao, described as the Portuguest Monte Carlo of the East..

"When we reached Canton early in October last things were in much the same state as they had been for over a year.'' said Mr. MaeDiarmid. ".Japanese bombing 'planes flew daily over the city of Canton and the surrounding country and dropped bombs on all kinds of military objectives. While we were at the New Zealand Presbyterian Mission Hospital. 14 miles north of Canton, not a day passed without at least one bombing raid, and we could hear and sometimes see the bombs dropping on or near to bridges and railway lines. Bad Marksmanship. "The chief danger was from the bad markmanship of the Japanese bombers. The mission hospital is about a quarter of a mile from the Canton-Hankow railway, and damage done in the hospital coinpqund was due to the Japanese iMimbing of the "lines. I do not believe that there was any desire on the part of the Japanese to hit the hospital. Our most exciting episode took place when we were on a visit to a branch mission hospital conducted by Miss James, about .")(! miles north of Canton.

"On our way back we were held up on the road on account of a head-on collision between two military trucks. Hefore the road* could* be cleared a dozen or more military wagons and other motor vehicles were held up like ourselves, and it was not long before we heard the drone of Japanese military 'planes, and ten machines were soon in action. We all took to the fields, and lay down behind hedges and in any holes we could find. The line nf waiting motor vehicles was then attacked.

"Mrs. MacDinrmid and Miss .Tones had unfortunately thrown themselves down on an ant«' nest, and they had a had time until the 'planes passed. Before the machines turned to swoop down in ntir direction we made a liolt for a Chinese hut. The Japanese must have seen lis running, for they made for the hov.se and opened fire with machine-puns while we crouched down and held various articles of kitchen furniture over our heads for protection. After three bursts from the machinepuns and the dropping of a few additional bombs the 'planes made off and we were able to resume our journey. None of the bombs hit any of the trucks, and nobody was injured, although three bomb* dropped close enough to our motor car to shower it with sand."

Mr. MaeDiarmid said that when they returned to the mission station they learned that the long-threatened Japanese invasion of South China had actually taken place, but no one thought that the enemy would reach Canton for some weeks owing to the preparations that had been made. The Outcome? "I have frequently been asked what will be the outcome of the war," said Mr. MaeDiarmid in reply to a question. "I do not profess to be an expert in prophecy, but from what I have seen there is no doubt that the Chinese are confident of eventually being victorious. They have adopted the double slogan, 'resistance and reconstruction.' They claim that four-fifths of the. territory that Japan says she has won is held only nominally by the invaders, and that, in reality it is still under Chinese control, the Japanese sphere of influence only extending to five or ten miles on each side of the railway lines and main roads. It is an immense country, and difficult for the Japanese to occupy. .

"The Chinese are certainly an attractive and a wonderful people," added Mr. MacDiarinid. "They seem to have no fear in their minds and no hatred of the Japanese. They look forward to the outcome of the war with quiet confidence. They are not perturbed with the casualties. Life in China is held cheaper than in other parts of the world, as the huge population has throughout the ages been used to floods and famines, with their huge toll of human life."