LIFE IN SHANGHAI

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4566, 8 November 1937, Page 6

LIFE IN SHANGHAI

DANGERS IN INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT. Mr. W. Walnizer, a member of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps, who arrived in Sydney by the Nankin last week, said that one of the chief dangers to foreigners in Shanghai was the continual possibility of Chinese rushing the International Settlement. “The Shanghai Volunteer Corps, comprised of many different nationalities, is for internal security,” he said. “Our work covers protection of food convoys in Shanghai, which may at any time be attacked by the Chinese.

“The Corps was mobilised on September 12 and took up position on September 13. There are 2000 members in the Corps, and after some days of duty we were relieved by the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. On the night of September 15 we heard a rumour that the Chinese intended blowing up two gates to the settlement, in order to cut off the Japanese attack. All that night we were waiting for the threatened mines, and lay with our rifles covering the two gates. But the mining did not come. We were all armed, and would have resisted th Chinese with fire, if necessary.”

Health Problem* Mr. Wolnizer said that the food shortage in Shanghai was becoming acute. Cholera was also spreading, and there were 1000 cases the week he left Shanghai. The city was swarming with flies, and it was impossible to clear many bodies from under piles of masonry. The Japanese had taken to burning the bodies in the street, and this was proving much healthier than gathering them for burial. “Pricked The Bubble.” “It is generally thought in China that the troops there have pricked Japan’s bubble as a first-class military nation,” Mr. Wolnizer said. “It does not say much for Japan that she cannot do better than she has done with all the resources at her disposal. She now has 100,000 troops in Shanghai. “One of the worst acts of the Japanese was the bombing and machinegunning of the American-owned Poplar Grove farm at Taziang, in Greater Shanghai. Although an American flag was prominently displayed, the Japanese killed all the cattle in the farm, including 300 head of blue ribbon Australian stock.” Mr. Wolnizer produced magazines with pictures of the Australian cattle lying dotted about the farm lands. Woman’s Adventures. Mrs. M. E. Roope, who also arrived by the Nankin, has been for several years manageress of the large apartment houses run by Cathay Hotels, Ltd., in Shanghai. “The old Shanghai is finished as far as foreigners are concerned,” she said. “Although I do not think Japan will ever win, Shanghai will be spoilt for tourists. We had a lot of American tourists in our hotel and apartments when the raids started, and their behaviour was wonderful. There was never any panic among them.” Mrs. Roope, who was ill for some time before the bombing, was taken from Shanghai in the destroyer Delight. She was transferred to the liner City of Asia, and finally reached Honk Kong. She doubts if she will ever return to Shanghai. She will spend some time in Sydney with her brother, Mr. V. Pennefather, of Roseville.