NOT RECOGNISED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21634, 10 February 1945, Page 4

NOT RECOGNISED

GEN, CHIANG’S ADVISER INTERNED IN MANILA JAPANESE POLICE SEARCH (Special Australian Correspondent). (10 a.m.) SYDNEY. Feb. 10. The Australian-born adviser to General Chiang Kai-Shek. Mr. W. H. Donald, spent three years in the Manila internment camp binding books for the internees' library. Mr. Donald gave the Japanese his correct name and age, but they did not recognise him as General Chiang's adviser. Had they done so, they would have taken their revengrvupon him. This is reported by the Sydney Morning Herald’s war correspondent. Mr. Jack Percival, who was interned for three years at Santo Tomas University. Mr. Donald, he says, was caught in Manila at the outbreak of the Pacific war while en route to Chungking from a holiday in the Pacific islands. He had several narrow escapes. Once a Japanese secret police investigator visited the camp and inquired about him. When he saw Mr. Donald’s age on a copy of the camp census he said: “This is not the man we are looking for. He is too old."

Mr. Donald, who is 69 years of age, spent his early career as a journalist in Sydney and Melbourne, and first went to the Orient as a journalist in 1902. He became interested in Chinese affairs and v/as appointed financial adviser to the President of the Chinese Republic. Dr. Sun YatSen, and, after the President’s death, attached himself to General Chiang Kai-Shek’s staff. He was the power behind any reforms introduced by General Chiang. When the latter was kidnapped by rebels in December. 1936, Mr. Donald flew to the rebels’ stronghold and had General Chiang released. This was followed by a compromise with the Communists, so that when Japan invaded China in 1937 the strength of the Nationalist China was no longer being dissipated in internecine warfare.

Speculation has been rife for the past three years concerning the mystery of Mr. Donald's whereabouts.