THRILLNG RESCUE

Feilding Star, Volume 9, Issue 3645, 13 February 1932, Page 5

THRILLNG RESCUE

Sixteen Catholic Sisters ENTERED CHAPE! AREA BROEGIIT BACK 1000 CHINESE WHO WERE XCEDING FOOD NO MAX’S LAND EPISODE THE SHANGHAI SENSATION STREAM OF REF EG EES A FLAT! RE OF THE WARFARE By Telegraph—Press As3n—Copyright (Ausfc. and N.Z. Cable) ('Received Feb. 13, 8 a.m.) Shanghai, February 12. The greatest humanitarian act ini the campaign wits performtfl this morning .when ;t small hand el 1G Catholic Sisters, headed by Major Haley-Bell, Father Jacquinot and Mi S s Haley-Bell. an English girl of IS years, entered the ruined Phapei area, crossed the dreaded No Alan’s Land during the four-hour truce and effected the rescue o-f approximately 1000 starving and terror-stricken . Chinese who had been isolated since the outbreak of hostilities o fortnight ago. an axxtoes time There wa s little fear that the Japanese would break tho truce, but uncertainty as to* the Chinese soldiers’ attitude caused considerable anxiety. During the absence of the party two Chinese shells were fired whilo occasional shots rang; out in the, Chinese lines, hut the truce was well observed. IN WRETCHED STATE The refugees were found -starving amidst unspeakable squalor and huddled in the riling whimpering, necessitating force in some instances to induce their evacuation. Eventually the refugee stream appeared amidst the ruing slowly treking towards the Settlement carrying a conglomeration of household' effects. Many were staggering with weakness. Finally they wern brought to the concentration camp where they received their first meal lor fourteen days.

The resellers report that many refused to leave and had to* abandoned to whatever fate awaits them.