MUTINEERS MARCH ON SIANFU

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21990, 14 January 1937, Page 9

MUTINEERS MARCH ON SIANFU

THREAT OF CIVIL WAR IN CHINA FEARS FOR MISSIONARIES’ SAFETY (Received January 13, 10.50 p.m.) NANKING, January 12. Grave fears are held for the safety of British and American missionaries at Sianfu because of the renewed threat of civil war in Sianfu. The mutinous troops formerly commanded by -Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang and communists are marching on the city. MISSIONS HAMPERED BY COMMUNISM POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANCE OF RECENT REVOLT The opinion that both Marshals Chiang Kai-shek and Chang Hsueh-liang-were aiming to defeat the comipunist movement in China and that the recent rebellion of Chang Hsuehliang arose because of a difference of opinion on the method to be used was expressed yesterday by the Rev. G. \V Gibb, head of the China Inland Mission, who is at present in Christchurch. He said that the Chinese would turn communist wherever the communists treated them well, but opposed it where the treatment was harsh. An example of good treatment by the communists, leading to' their favourable reception, was in Shansi. In Sichuan the communists treated the populace harshly and came to be hated. ... Mr Gibb said that during the last 10 years missionary work had been caused considerable difficulty through the unrest and uncertainty arising from communism. He referred to the cases of Mr Hayman, a New Zealander, and Mr Bosshardt. who were held in captivity for many months. Although for the most part there was no danger, the strain of facing possible trouble from communism was sometimes considerable. Every now and then some missionaries lost their lives. During the last 10 years there had been 10 martyrs, the latest being John and Betty Siam, husband and wife, who were cruelly put to death by communists, who were completely opposed to religion. Once when he himself was making a journey a man jumped out of thick scrub and pointed a revolver at him, but disappeared when he discovered that Mr Gibb was not the man he wanted. The same thing happened five times along 100 yards of the road. On another occasion a communist rushed up to him, pointed a revolver at his chest, but he dropped it and rushed away when Mr Gibb said in Chinese' “I am not afraid of that.” Mr Gibb considered that the Influence of. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek was growing in China. He had not “lost face” through the recent rebellion. He was, Mr Gibb considered, the only hope in China at present.