DOG SAVES MASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1929, Page 7

DOG SAVES MASTER

KILLS A BANDIT

ENGINEER’S ADVENTURE IN CHINA.

AUCKLAND, April 9

After thirteen years in chaotic China, six of which were spent in the city of Tientsin, about 100 miles south of Pekin, Mr A. W. Nash, with his wife and small daughter, arrived at Auckland to-day on the Marama to spend a holiday. During the past six years Mr and Airs Nash have lived perilously. There has been fighting almost in their back garden. As a result, Airs Nash is in a very poor state of health, her nerve.-* having collapsed under the strain, and the health of her little daughter has also been impaired.

Air Nash, who is assistant waterworks engineer to the British Municipa' Council at Tientsin, has escaped death at the hands of Chinese soldiers and bandits on more than one occasion. A big Alsatian dog, trained from hi‘ puppy days to he the protector of tlw family, saved the life of Afr Nash when he was attacked by armed Chinese on the sandy plain outside Tientsin. The Alsatian, standing over three feet high, made short work of one of the marauders, who was inclined to be violent No sooner had the Chinaman attacked Mr Nash than the great dog rushed Forward with an angry roar, pulled his victim to the ground and killed him. The other Chinese fled, and Mr Nash reached home safely. On yet another occasion Mr Nash was motoring over the sandy plain at night when Chinese bandits stopped his car by waving a red lantern. He pulled up, thinking there was an oh struction ahead, and found himself looking down the barrels of two re volvers. The Chinese took all hif money and valuable, hut spared his life. After that experience Mr Nash always carried a revolver.

AVheii Air Nash spoke of the trouble in China, lie did not attempt a detailed description of the state of the country, lmt summed the whole thing up b' saying that £ s. .d was at the bottom of it all. He saw the Chinese city of Tientsin looted in 1926. “ There is acute trade depression In reason of the long-continued warfare. The malignant influence of the Beds is everywhere' apparent,” Mr Nash said. ITis main efforts were directed towards restraining his Chinese laboureis fiom mining the unions. Once a Chinaman joined a union lie was useless as a worker, since strikes were general whenever and wherever unions became strong. Mr Nash says the Nationalist Government is negotiating with the Bi i tisli authorities, and it is possible that British recognition will he accorded if the Nationalists can maintain the dominant position. British recognition might mean that the Concessions would be handed back to China. Mr Na-h believe that this would be disav irons.