LADY MISSIONARIES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1930, Page 3

LADY MISSIONARIES

BRUTALLY MURDERED. __United Press Association—By Electra telegraph.—Copyright.j SHANGHAI, October 11. Details of the attrocious murder of two English lady . Missionaries by Communists ill the vicinty of Kienningfu, in north Fukien province, are available, following on the return of tlie British Consul, Mr Martin, who sought to" effect their res-, cue by the payment of a. ransom. Whereas it was at first reported that the ladies had been shot because a ransom had riot been, paid, it was now shown that • both were clumsily and brutally beheaded after subjection to diabolical; indignities and to frightful bodily and mental torture. The ladies were for three months captives in the hands of Communists of the most fiendish type-. - . On one occasion;' • that of International Labour. Day,; they were compelled to sit chained to chairs for four hours in, a blistering sun, (luring a mock-trial of four-anti-ComiriunistS, following which four men’s heads .were -hacked off within,a few feet bf, 4 ’ladies, who were informed that a similar fate awaited them if "akransom were not paid. A Missionary go-between offered fifty 1 thousand dollars a-s a ransom, but this was rejected, and' one hundred thousand dollars ransom was demanded.

The Government Troops mode no definite effort to attack the Communists, who boast that they can do as they like with foreigners. The latter throughout China, are now bitterly condemning the Government for ineptitude. At Nankins; the Nationalist Government authorities are seriously alarmed at the recrudescence of Communism at their own back door. Nankhang is in like jeopardy, near Hankow.