THE CHINA MISSIONS

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1926, Page 5

THE CHINA MISSIONS

SOME INTERESTING FACTS INCORRECT AND CONPUSING CABLES. TROUBLE ONLY LOCAL.

(By Telegraph—

-Own CorrespondentJ

AUCKLAND, Oct. 1. Tnteresting facts oonceming tlie city of Chow-kia-kow, in the province of Honan, which was reported to have been attacked by bandits who destroyed the mission preniises, were given by the Rev. J. Brock, who has recently been in eharge of one of the Chimt Inland Missions in that city. Alr Brock said that the cabled reports were slightlv incorrect and confusing. There were two mission stations in Chow-kia-kow — one in the north and oue in ihe south. Until recently the Rev*. W. E. Shearer had been in eharge of the north mission and the speaker had eharge of the southern station. Tlie Australian missionary, Ylr C. Freemah Da vies, who was reported to have been captured by tlie bandits, was in temporary eharge of tlie soutliern station and not of tlie northern oue, as had been stated. Probably the only missionary stiationed in the north of the city would be Miss K. E. Kreick. It was evidently the southern station which had been destroyed, tliough the other miglit also Ihavo suffered the sarne fate. With Mr Davies were Mrs Davies, Miss E. Popping, and Miss M. Simpson. All the women, however, had been reported to be safe. ? Tho trouble in Chow-kia-kow, continued Alr Brock, had evidently been caused by bandits and looters following in thc wake of the troops. The city had been protected hy Marshal Wupei-fu's army, which had controlled the Honan province. Now the troops were being tlirown back, giving the bandits and local "rowdies" scope for looting. AIi' Brock said that although the mission stations in tlie liill country to the west liad of ten bfeen visited by bandits, Chow-kia-kow was generally immune from attack. During tlie Boxer uprising the station had been destroyed and the missionaries had been in danger for a time, but they

had managed to escape to the coast. In Deeember. 1924, the city was taken by bandits, and several of the shops were burned and looted. About 300 captives were taken, and those who could not pay a satisfaetory ransom were shot. The mission had been visited, and tlie bandits had bhreatened to take the missionaries. However, they had departed quietly, after relieving tlie men of their jyatches. Alr Brock said he left the station in May, 1926, before the present trouble. He had now completed his fqi'lougli, and as he liad had no advioe to the contrary from the missions headquai'ters at Shanghai, he would be returning to take up his work.again. Although the mission station was reported to have been destroyed, part of it was probably still standing, •' . "From fhe reports," said Mr Brock, "any oue would think tluit China was absolutely unsafe to live in. It is a large country, and just because there are disturbances in some quarters it doe® not f'ollow that the whole country is affected. The disturbed areas are scattered, and the trouble is only local— here at one time and there at another."