FALL OF CANTON CAUSES GLOOM

Southland Times, Issue 23649, 26 October 1938, Page 5

FALL OF CANTON CAUSES GLOOM

WELLINGTON CHINESE STARTING OF INDUSTRIES IN VILLAGES (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 25. Deep sorrow at the fall of Canton is felt by some 300 Wellingtpn Chinese, of whom the great majority are natives of that city. Although outwardly the Chinese greengrocers, market gardeners and laundrymen maintain their expressions of imperturbable cheerfulness, behind them inscrutable countenances they are sad at heart. Their grief finds expression in no organized communal service or ceremony. Instead, they go about their work in garden, market and shop just as usual, concealing their anxiety for families and friends in peril and their sorrow at the destruction of their homes.

The Chinese Consul, Mr Feng Wang, said today that all Chinese were deeply grieved at the fall of Canton. It was the home town of the majority of Chinese living in New Zealand. A large proportion of the local Cantonese, however, came not from the city itself, but from the country districts and so had the comfort of realizing that it was unlikely their relations in China were endangered by the bombardment of the city. Canton, he said, had been largely evacuated by the civil population. The inhabitants had moved out into the adjacent countryside, living in small villages, which would hardly invite air raids or attacks by the Japanese invaders. As it was likely, because of these circumstances, that the casualties among the civilians in Canton would

have been comparatively small, it was not proposed to make any special effort or raise any special fund on behalf oi Cantonese refugees. The Chinese relief fund was still operating and its proceeds would, no doubt, be used to alleviate any suffering in the stricken areas. No particular services or meeting would be held in sympathy with ths people of Canton, nor would Chinese shops or offices be closed.' NEW ZEALANDER’S PART The Consul produced a report from Hankow stating that a New Zealander, Mr Reid Alley, was: taking a leading part in the Chinese Government organization to rehabilitate and provide for refugees from Canton and other cities laid waste by modern warfare. He was serving as technical adviser to the Chinese Industrial Co-operatives, as the relief organization was termed, and was at present directing operations in Hankow. The aim of the movement, supported by the Generalissimo, Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, and Dr H. H. Kung, M’nister of Finance, was to set up small factory industries in as many villages as possible in order to absorb refugees into the working population and not only make them self-supporting, but provide valuable supplies to the armies at the front. Modern production methods were being introduced into the villages and at the same time the traditional handicrafts were being stimulated to enable refugees to produce numerous essential articles formerly manufactured in the cities shattered by war. It was a nation-wide movement to make tbwar refugees self-supporting and productive, safeguard the livelihood cf the Chinese people and strengthen China’s economic structure.

Government granted the 'tovement 5,000,000 dollars as an inaugural capital. It will undertake to market or to purchase goods manufactured under t?.? scheme. An early feature was a drive to manufacture 5,000,000 of the th: padded jackets worn by the Chinese troops before the closing down of f bleak Asiastic winter. It is believed that the Cantonese driven from their city will already have been absorbed by this and similar schemes.

TWO NEW ZEALAND DOCTORS RETURN

MEDICAL SERVICE MORE EFFICIENT

WELLINGTON, October 25.

An adventurous 10 months were spent by two young New Zealand doctors, Dr H. C. Tremewan, of Lower Hutt, and Dr R. B. Grey, of Auckland, who returned by the Wanganella today after having served in the Chinese war zone under the auspices of the International Red Cross Society. They were stationed mainly in the Honan Province and Dr Grey was engaged for a great part of the time in attending the refugees who were being cared for by the Red Cross. Both doctors were reticent about expressing any opinions about the outcome of the war, but said the fall of Canton meant that ammunition supplies from Hong Kong would be interrupted. Two other routes, however, were still open. Relating their experiences, the doctors said that on one occasion 13 bombs fell round a hospital and though the outbuildings were damaged the hospital was not hit. They knew one hospital which had been hit by bombs. The Chinese, they said, had altered their mode of living as a result of the air raids. During daylight, when the bombing raids were carried out, the inhabitants sought refuge in ' the countryside and the villages were deserted, while at night they returned to the villages and carried out their business during the hours of darkness. There had been a vast improvement in the nature of the medical assistance since the outbreak of the war. The service was now more efficient and better organized and equipped. Cholera was one of the main ravages the medical service had to fight and dysentty was also prevalent. Both doctors said their medical and surgical experience had been valuable, but their plans for the future were indefinite.