DEPENDING ON BRITAIN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 41, 17 January 1938, Page 9

DEPENDING ON BRITAIN.

PROTECTION IN THE EAST. AUCKLAND, .Jan. 14. The tremendous reliance the Chinese and other nationals placed on British protection in the East was the subject of comment by Mrs M. Lewis, formerly of Hawke’s Bay and Wellington, who returned to the Dominion by the Swartenliondt after spending nearly three years in Hong Kong. For the past two years Mrs Lewis has been manageress of the Helena May Women’s Residential Club in that city, but has come back to accept an appointment in Wellington. “Throughout the East you get the feeling that everyone depends on Britain,’’" Mrs Lewis said. Dutch people in Java had expressed to her their faith in their - immunity from attack by Japan or any other Power on account Of the strength of the? Singapore Base. The residents of both Singapore and Hong Kong were confident of Britain’s power to defend them and anticipated no danger. The feeling of security extended into the Pacific Mi's Lewis added. At Noumea she had drawn the attention of a French subject to two small guns at the entrance to the harbour remarking upon their apparent ineffectiveness in case of attack. “Ohi j those are only for saluting purposes,” was the reply. “If we are attacked England will come to our aid.” The remarkable manner in which the Chinese displayed Union Jacks everywhere throughout Hong Kong was an interesting feature of the city just now. Mrs Lewis said Hong Kong was Still crowded with refugees, although the position had been particularly bad following the first bombing at Canton, when 600,000 persons had arrived in 1 two weeks. It had been practically impossible to walk through the side streets owing to the congestion, and as so many additional people had to find a means of living there had been a considerable amount of baggnatching and petty thieving. Matters had been further complicated by' the outbreak of cholera. In spite of the feeling against Japan, the comparatively small Japanese colony in Hong Kong had been practically undisturbed, so efficient was the street patrolling by the Chinese and sepoy police under British officers. Patrol work began at 4 p.m. daily, and extended throughou the night, and so far only two very minor incidents had occurred. With soldiers and sailors everywhere and many warships in the harbour Hong Kong felt like a garrisoned city, Mrs Lewis said. It was very well prepared for any eventualities, but the authorities expected no- ' thing of a serious nature to happen.