MISSIONARIES' ORDEAL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 17, 13 October 1937, Page 5

MISSIONARIES' ORDEAL

-Press Associallon.)

Work in the War Area of China AERIAL BOMBARDMENTS

(By

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AUCKLAND, Last Nigkt. Nevvs of tke dangerous and disturbed conditions under which missionaries of the New Zealand Fresbyterian Churck in the Canton area are at prosent living was given to the Auckland Presbytery to-niglit by the superintendent of mi»sions, the Rev. G. Budd. He said that the last ne.ws he had received from them came by air raail and was dated October 1. All their missionaries were safe at present, but Canton was receiving constant bombardment from the air and a state of nerves and general upset was fairly prevalent. It was indicative of this tkat even in tke comparative peace of Dumbeli Island when one of the Jadies was pouring out tea she poured it into the sugar basin instead of the cup. "Our hospital at Kong Chuen is in a serious position," said Mr. Budd, "beoause tkere are raiiway stations on cither side of it and it is liable to become a mark for bombers. Other property of ours is near the key bridges, and of course it is in perii at any timo of the niglit or day when bombardments are going on. "Miss James, at the hospital at Kaai Hau, was in the thick of things a fenw days ago. Bombs fell to such an extent in the neighbourhood that the whole building was rocking and tho patients had to be brought outside. You can realise that this is a time of grave gnxiety for our people there."