AT SHANGHAI

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1932, Page 6

AT SHANGHAI

A TERRIBLE TALK

EY E-WITNESSES’ -STOR Y

SYDNEY, March 10,

Tenable tale s of suffering in Shanghai were brought to Sydney by members of the crew of the wheat ship ~Anglo-Afiacan,iwthe first- vessel «o reach Australia since the Sino-Japaaese conflict began in earnest. They did not see a -great -deal of the fighting but they saw -enough to make them feel that they never wanted to return to China. The suffering of the Chinese, they said, was pathetic, and thousands and -thousands (of them were in a state -of starvation. Their outlook appeared to be quite hopeless, and it made them wonder what the ultimate outcome of the whole sorry business would he. “When we went up the river past Chapei,” said Chief Steward Trotman, “the town was bustling with life, rickshaws were running and everything was shipshape. When we sailed back there !wa s no town there to ‘speak of, just great big holes in ruined buildings. We did not see any bullets, but there must have been plenty by the noise as we sailed to our berth up the Wliangpoo. The oooliesl refused to leave the ship, as they were afraid of the machineguns, the cracklei of ■ which could he heard on all sides. We took more notice when wo knew that shells wore being fired over the ship.”

Two members of the crew won't ashore, and they had a lively time before they decided to return as fast as their lives won I'd carry them. The Japanese were firing almost indiscriminately, and 4 were always on the look-out for snipers among the Chinese. The Chinese also fired at almost anything, and the members of the crew s ay 'that they escaped with their lives solely because the Japanese and the Chinese were such “dreadfully bad shots." •Even with the .Japanese machine-guns there was plenty of noise, hut -very little slaughter. Most of the Chinese were terrified, however, and wort s faring from fear and lack ol lood.

“I have never seen such starvation, said Trotman. “Why, the refugees—and there were thousands of them — would pick up the clinker cinders. We had to feed a hit of them. We could not let them go without doing so. The stevedore told us that ibis house had been blown to pieces, and he brought with him his two starving wives. We shared our meals with them. The Japanese were ruthless when they obtained control. While we were there they ordered a rich Finn who was driving a car to stop. Tie did so, and then, thinking lire had got the signal to go on, he sftairted off again. He was shot dead. Terrible punishments were given to Chinese who were caught .stealing. One man. was lashed to a pole and batoned until the man who "as in jflicting the. punishment dropped, exhausted,”