LAND OF EXCITEMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 548, 28 December 1928, Page 2

LAND OF EXCITEMENT

ADVENTURES IN CHINA After 29 years in China, the last 10 of them as a customs officer in Shanghai, Mr. E. M.. McGowan reached Melbourne last week by the Mishima Maru. He has seen China pass through periods of crime and political stress to the more stable conditions of today. Mr. McGowan has stories to tell of thrilling experiences along the Chinese waterfront. Pirates are still terrorising officers and passengers of ships moving along the coast. The pirates usually board vessels as passengers and turn the table when she is out at sea. Just before he left China the Empress of Canada was attacked by pirates. “I am on unlimited leave.” he said, “but I will probably return to the land of excitement within a year.” Stories of atrocities during China’s recent reign of terror are told by a young Melbourne priest. Rev. Father M. F. O’Collins, who has spent several years with the Irish Catholic Mission m the Hupeh district of China. He explained how bandits held villages and towns to ransom. One man who failed to meet their demands had his house burned dewn, his wife shot and his children thrown into the flames. B Father O’Collins had a narrow escape. A bandit chief, finding hfm holding a service, rushed at Mm with levelled revolver. Onlv after entreaty by the loyal Christians present was the missionary allowed To go r,Jn WO °i hel- P rie sts, Father O’Con- ? n e ‘‘ a , nd Father McDonald, were tors for " Uh lhc-ir bandit capion ,n da - s ’ Practically starving backs. F armS bound behiad