IN A CHINESE GAOL

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1929, Page 11

IN A CHINESE GAOL

EXPERIENCES OF RUSSIANS.

SAD. STORY OF NEGLECT.

Shanghai, May 28. At a time when the Nationalist Government ia urging the Foreign Powers to relinquislr-the extraterritorial rights, the experiences of a party of Russians, in a Chinese gaol outside the city of Tientsin,.afford grave food for reflection. The Nationalists claim •that certain countries which have ceased to enjoy extraterritorial privileges in China, had found satisfaction in the protection given to the nationals by Chinese law; this, however, is not supported by ' the tale of these unfortunate Russians. According to a statement issued by tome Russian priests who visited theiifellow countrymen, the party of Russians, thirteen in number, were unshaven and unkempt. Only one of the prisoners wore a shirt approaching anything in the way of cleanliness. On one of the prisoners the only article of wearjnw apparel was an old overcoat all ragged and torn. None of the prisoners teemed to have had a bafch for months. One of them stated that ho had not had a, bath since his incarceration, which was over three years ago. The general impression created upon the Russian priests was that the will power and spirit of the prisoners had been completely broken. The poor unfortunates are believed 'to bo White Russians, but the priests were unable to discover what, crimes they had committed for which they were imprisoned. ' While a great deal has, been done to improve many Chinese prisons, there is undoubtedly still room for considerable reform, and the treatment meted out to the«e poor unfortunate .Russians, with, apparently, no one interested in their is: a:; strong;argument.against r tM, : jdjolitfoh of extraterritoriality.,-.---Q.j. 3 - (!