REMOTE CHINESE MISSION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22388, 29 April 1938, Page 4

REMOTE CHINESE MISSION

NEW ZEALANDER’S LONELY

TASK

ATTACK* *y kovjng bands or COMMUNIST*

tffl FPffll «p*ew> asndff.J

• . AUCKLAND. APrU 27, Adventure In Ste wild north-west of China* oh’ the borders of Tibet and MonaeM#, haa wj f the life of Mr J. S. Muir ana Mr? Muir, members of the China inland Mission, who arrived from Sydney by the Wanganella after seven years in Kansu province. Mr Muir is a graduate ,of the New Zetland Bible Training Institute. Auckland. With his wife and their two children, he intends to visit t&a&ss&si gashioriTdrawing in long ropes lined with to keep out the intense cold and ’speaking to the Chteese in their own language. .M* andiMra Mmr have won many friends among the people of this lonely country, but they pave not been Immune from attacks by bands el Communist*, who until quite recently reamed the country.

"We bod to leave our station twice hfctuu of Commimista, who used to Mature missionaries and hold them to ransom,” M r Muir said. “Mr Hayman, from Auckland, la one of our mfaaionariea, andngwas held captive for a lona time. Now. however, the Communists have united with the Government troops against Japan. Conditions are still primitive in the part of China where Mr and Mrs Muir are stationed. Mr Muir suffered a grave illness earlier this-year, and it was for a time thought possible that an aeroplane would nave to he chartered to fly him right across China. He was able, however, to make the journe,fbough r *he’ did not discuss the details of the presept conflict between China mid Japan. Mr Muir said that from the latest reports they had received on their way to New Zealand, China seemed to be holding her own. They were optimistic about the outcome of the war. Similar views were expressed by another passenger on the Wanganella, a marine engineer who has for more than' a year served on ships trading on the China coast. He said that the general opinion was that the Chinese resistance would prove too much for the Japanese, and that the; war wotild end With a victory for China.