DAILY AIR RAIDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23381, 24 June 1939, Page 18

DAILY AIR RAIDS

SUFFERINGS IN CHINA

CAMPS AND SCHOOLS .HIT PLIGHT OF REFUGEES The' conditions in various parts of China occupied by the Japanese at the present time are vividly described in a letter received in Auckland. The writer is Mrs. A. Mncfarlane, of the China Inland Mission, who went to China from Australia as a missionary 4S years ago.

Writing from Shanghai, Mrs. Macfarlane quotes from a letter received from a fellow-worker in another province. "We had a dreadful time here last week; nothing more diabolical could be found outside of hell," says the writer. "On March 17, 19 and 23 a total of 12 aeroplanes twice daily rained bombs on the city. On the first two days the Baptist compound got several bombs. Every day since the 17th aeroplanes have been in the district. If the city is not being bombed then we hear explosions along the river, where they are trying to find Chinese guns. A refugee camp housing about 1000 people was bombed. A large, room where there were 200 women and children got a direct hit, which killed 39 and wounded over 100. Many of the seriously injured died. ''My school was struck, too. The children were all in the classroom, but when the bombs began to fall some wore frightened and three ran to the sleeping room. One bomb smashed into that also, but the children huddled together into a corner and prayed. All three said that a man wearing a white robe stood bv and told them not to be afraid —that he would protect them with his robe. They were not hurt save for a scratch and a slight bruise. "Just such things are going on in many parts of China." says Mrs. Macfarlaue, "and daily news reaches us of the slaughter of myriads. No words can express the awful suffering being experienced by innocent people. We mourn and groan in spirit as we go in and out among the camps, where manv thousands are still compelled to remain, for the great enemy is blocking the way to their return; but even it they were able it would be to ruins. When crossing the border every stick ol wood or bamboo they carried would be taken from them and burned on a large fire near by." Mrs. Maefarlane goes on to describe pitiful conditions in several large refugee camps with which she is associated.