DISTRACTED CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1929, Page 2

DISTRACTED CHINA

In Writing to a friend in Dunedin under date June 13 Mr Samuel Glanville, a China Inland Missionaiy from Cnristchurch, who is now stationed at Tientsin, says: “Truly the country is in a terrible condition, more so than most people at home realise. At heart there is no natipnalism in the land: it is just the ‘ mailed fist ’ and the cutest rogue who can wave it. The oidinary people are being fleeced unmercifully by the so-called rulers, tile country is in the grip of the military party, and the merchants are helpless but nidignant. It costs as much to get goods from four days up country to Tientsin as it does to get the same goods landed in New York from Tientsin. This speaks for itself.

The worst famine known in China within the ken of living men is now raging; no rain to speak of has fallen for many months; and the farmers have been unable to sow corn which would be repeated in the autumn. Railway rolling stock is being used to transport troops, so no cars are available to carry grain to the needy people. In addition to this, troops passing through a district eat up what food there is available. It is hard to say what is developing in the country. Feng is being squeezed out of his position, and he may consolidate his position and turn and fight, or he might link up with Moscow again and introduce trouble up in the. North-west;/in any case, he has a lot'otf sympathy at his back, and the people look upon him as one who might be able to help them in their trouble. Ido not see how the country can hold together much longer, for nothing whatever is being done to develop its resources. Brigandage and lawlessness are ever on the increase. At the present time five of our people with one infant are in captivity, held to ransom, and our consuls are impotent to do anything for their deliverance (since released). As far as missionary work is concerned, in those places where there is a semblance of peace the Lord’s work is going on, and souls are being won. The mission has launched a forward movement with a view to pushing out into those regions where no gospel work is being done. That is good, for it is a waste of money and strength to run educational work. You can get students to attend classes, but all they want is equipment to enable them to better their position in life, and ignore the friends from whom they gain so much. We live a busy life up here. T am full up with banking, customs, freighting, and transport work, and have little time left for the evangelistic work which I like to do.”