IN DIRE PERIL

Evening Star, Issue 21966, 28 February 1935, Page 14

IN DIRE PERIL

MISSIONARIES IN CHINA THE LATEST OUTRAGE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 26. The ‘ News-Chronicle’s ’ Shanghai correspondent reports that bandits killed Mrs Ruth Frencham, wife of a missionary. SHANGHAI, February 26. A letter received from Sianfu, the Shensi capital, describes the tragic events following the entry of Communists into Ningkiang in headlong flight before Government troops. Mr Frencham and his wife were at the house of the Chinese commander of the Ningkiang garrison, where Sirs Frencham was acting as midwife to the commanding officer’s wife. Mr Frencham and the commander left the house for the purpose of arranging details of flight, and were last seen surrounded by Communists. They were escorted beyond the city, while street fighting was in progress and portion of the city was in flames. Chinese later discovered the dead body of tiie commander’s wife, but there were no trace of Mrs Frencham. Two missionaries set out on foot from Sianfu in an endeavour to locate Mrs Frencham, facing a twelve days’ journey across mountains in the bitterest weather, but with little hope of success. The Government has despatched four divisions to the scene of the latest Communist outrage, where intensive preparations have been made to surround the' Reds