SAVING CHINESE CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 112, 4 February 1939, Page 9

SAVING CHINESE CHILDREN

Women’s Brave Work On War Fronts GIRLS OF SCHOOL AGE HELP By Telegraph—Press Association. HASTINGS, February 3. The sufferings of the Chinesi civilian population, and the work of aiding refugee children are told in a letter, received by Mr. Barnard, M.P., Napier, chairman of the New Zealand Council for the “Adoption” of Chinese Children, from Madame Chiang Kaishek, wife of the commander of the Chinese forces. Madame Chiang Kai-shek thanks the New Zealand Council for its contributions toward the relief of the orphans. Special attention is being devoted to the physical and mental development of the children. In her letter Madame Chiang Kaishek states, inter alia: — “We have received . three instalments, one of 22,000 dollars, a second of 21,000 dollars and a third of 48,000 dollars. For the total of 91,000 I send what appear to be my belated thanks and appreciation on behalf of my people and the war orphans who will benefit.

“It will interest you to know that about 14,000 war refugee children have been moved from the war zones into the western provinces of Szechuan, Kweichow and Kwangsi. The majority are in Szechuan.

“The refugee children have been divided into workable units of 300. As a rule that number comprises an orphanage, which is equipped witli the simplest and barest of furniture in some building loaned for the purpose. “One of the most encouraging features is the way in which the people of China have responded to the demands made upon them. They are ably seconded ‘by the gifts and interest of overseas Chinese in all parts of the world, and what is more noteworthy, by generous-spirited people of other nationalities like you of New Zealand, who have come so liberally to the help of ‘the poor souls to whom this hungry war opens his vast jaws.’ Saving Children.

“On the three main fronts where the Japanese are still advancing into Chinese territory—Canton, HunanKaingsi and along the Lunghi railway—the committee maintains receiving homes to salvage children from the clutches and brutality of the invaders. ■ “In groups of 100 these are being sent to the rear. This work of rescue is often carried out under great difficulty and danger, but the women in charge courageously stick to their task.

“When at leisure the children appear to be as happy as any children of the world could be and they are full of the same tricks and devilment as characterize healthy children anywhere.

.“Shortly after we established a home in Hangkow, four boys disappeared from one of the camps and no trace of them could be found in the city. After a lapse of a fortnight they reappeared at the camp with 17 other boys. It seems that the four, appreciating the conditions in which they found themselves, decided to go back to the war front and rescue some of their friends.

“It is impossible to understand, nor have w 7 e yet discovered, how these little fellows managed to travel miles on troop trains and escape injury from gunfire and bombs at the front. Tragic Sights.

“During our recent tour we found the highways crowded with, refugees carrying their babies and their belongings on their backs, on barrows or on any contrivance that they could get attached to wheels. “In innumerable cases the babies ate carried in baskets strung to a pole across their parents’ shoulders, or they are piled high on top of baggage and boxes, or sleei> fastened to the -backs of the mothers. The really unfortunate children are the ones whose parents have been killed and who are lost amid ruins caused by bombing raids or towns shelled by artillery. These are the ones we try to collect first. “In order to combat the demoralization that is likely to affect the country people, I began organizing the women some time ago to work with the people behind the lines in addition to rescuing children and helping > the sufferers. Apart from adult women we are training girls of middle school age and above to go- to villages behind the lines and there instruct the - people what they should do and how they should live. “Recently in Hunan a group of these girls who had just finished training at Changsa reached the first big city on their way to the stations appointed to them, and there they were caught in a bombing raid. Three of them were killed and three wounded, the last words of one of the girls being the regretful expression that 'my work has not yet started and I have to die.’ ”

(Week-end radio programmes on page 6 of second section.)