N.Z. Author’s Amazing Experiences in China

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1938, Page 7

N.Z. Author’s Amazing Experiences in China

(Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, July 15, The Hongkong correspondent of “The Times” states that an.. amazing story of terrifying experiences in China was related by Miss Iris Wilkinson, “Robin Hyde,’ ’the Auckland author, who was reported missing for months and who is still in hospital suffering from nervous prostration. The position became acute on May 10, when Japanese planes dropped 200 incendiary bombs on Hsechow. Many buildings , were set on fire, and all hospitals overflowed with civilian casualties.

A Trek Begun Chinese on May 14 informed her that the railway had been severed by the Japanese and the only way of escape was by foot. She decided to trek northwards to the coast, and started, ill-equipped, and suffering from an almost blinded eye due to a crazed Chinese refugee striking her with an electric torch. This injury is still evident. After a long and exciting trudge, she was given a lift part of the way by a Japanese lorry, an officer declaring that she would have been shot if she had been a Chinese. Provided with Donkey Following further foot slogging, she reached a Chinese outpost, where the commander provided her with a uniform and a donkey, on which she rode some distance, seeing occasional fight- , ing. Eventually she reached Tsinpu j railway, and decided to walk along the 1 track to Tsingtao. A Japanese troop train overtook her. I and offered her a lift to Tsingtao. but I when she went aboard she found the [ train was going to Hsuchow. which | she reached in the middle of June. Unpleasant Companions Undaunted, she decided again to attempt to walk, and after two days, was overtaken along the railway by a Japanese soldier's trolley and offered a lift, but, because of the unpleasantness of her companions, she left the trolley at Lungchen. where she met a Japanese officer, who placed her on a troop train for Tsingtao. which she I reached after two • days and two ! nights. 1 j In British Hands i She travelled in the same compartment as 14 Japanese soldiers, sleeping on a mat, and was taken to Japanese j headquarters at Tsingtao. She was given hotel lodgings for one day, and then handed over to British authorities. I Later she preceded to Hongkong, j where she is slowly recuperating.