COMMUNIST OUTRAGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 February 1935, Page 12

COMMUNIST OUTRAGE

FATE OF MISSIONARIES. [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] SHANGHAI, February 2C. A letter received here from Sianfu, the Shensi province capital, describes tragic events that followed the'entry of Communists into Ningkiang in a headlong flight before the Government troops. Mr. Frencham* and his wife were at the house of the Chinese Commander of the Ningkiang garrison, where Mrs. Frencham was acting as midwife for the commanding officer’s wife. Mr. Frencham and the commander left the house for the purpose of arranging the details for their flight. They were last seen surrounded by Communists, by whom they were escorted beyond the city, while serious street fighting was in progress. Portion of the city was in flames. The Chinese later discovered the dead body of the commander’s wife, but there was no trace of Mrs. Frencham.

Two missionaries set out. afoot from Sianfu to endeavour to locate Mrs. Frencham, facing a .twelve days’ jour ney across mountains in the bitterest weather, but with little hope of sue cess. . The Government have dispatched four divisions to the scene of this latest Communist outrage, where intensive preparations are being made to surround the Reds.

DEATH REPORTED

LONDON, February 27

The “News-Chronicle’s” Shanghai correspondent reports that bandits have killed Mrs. Frencham.