GOBI DESERT TRAVELLERS

Chronicle (Levin), 4 September 1946, Page 4

GOBI DESERT TRAVELLERS

TALK TO BE GIVEN IN LEVIN North-west of China, north of India, and bordering on Soviet Russia, lies the vast stretch of almost unknown territory called Ch'inese Turkestan, with the amazing Gobi Desert. It was to this area, after many years of work in China, that Miss Mildred Cable went with her companions, Miss ' Francesca and Miss Eva French,' and there they worked for fifteen years. Together thjey crossed the Gobi Desert no less than five times, spreading the gospel in the populous oases. For the shot and sheil of their effort they relied on the British and Foreign Bible Society supplying, as it does, the gospel in ; many a remote tongue. These women of indomitable courage have told their story in their books of missionary adveni ture, which have often been "bestsellers." They have been where no other English women have been; they have passed into Soviet terri- : tory,; they have been pursued by; Chinese brigands, arrested for weeks, and escaped to tell their ■ story. Their steadfastness of faith and their determination of pur- ; pose in the face of terrific obstacles shine out through their books, of which perhaps the best known are • "Through Jade Gate," "Something Happened," and "Towards Spiritual Maturity." Their latest book, "The Gobi Desert," received enthusiastic . praise from reviewers and has sold : through many editions. The trio have recently been presented with two medals. The first is the Lawrence of Arabia Medal. presented to them by the Royal Geographical Society, and the second, the Livingstone Medal, presented by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. These were presented, of course, in recognition of their outstanding work as explorers in'the Gobi Desert. 1 Miss Cable, as one of • thc society's vice-presidents, and Mis? French, as one of its honorary life governors, have been closeiy con^ nected with the Bible Society for many years, and during the war they have rendered invaluable assistance to it at home, speaking at meetings up and down the country, making new friends and inspiring fresh enthusiasm amongst the society's workers in the home auxiliaries. In particular, they have done much to forward the women's side of the work, and Miss Cable, as chairman of the Women's Advisory Committee at the London Bible House, has had a large share in the development of this work. Misses Cable and French will be the speakers at the ,annual meeting of the Levin branch of.the society on Monday next at-7.30'p.m, in St. Mary's Hall.> ' ■ ■ i :