CHINESE GIRL FIGHTERS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 106, 7 November 1938, Page 4

CHINESE GIRL FIGHTERS

“DO OR DIE” BATTALIONS FACING JAPANESE HONGKONG, Sept. I.—Afore than 10,000 Chinese girls, who have exchanged silk and satin clothes for coarse cotton army uniforms, were flung into the battle against the Japanese along the Yangtse River. These Amazons, under Genferal Li Chung-Jen, were recruited from universities and schools in the South China provinces of Kwangsi and ~y Kwangtung. Many were “co-eds.” Aieu could not be spared from tho Yangtse front because of the Japanese threat to invade South China. * Rifles, Daggers. The girls, trained by the former German advisers of C’hiang Kai-shek, Chinese dictator-generalissimo, have their own officers. They are equipped with Alauser rifles, daggers, and hand grenades. Since these girls received their “baptism of fire” several months ago not one has been taken prisoner by the Japanese. When faced with capture, it is said, they turn their Alausers on- daggers on themselves and die with the battle-cry “Save China.” Alany are members of “do. or die” battalions who have sworn on oath to die rather than surrender or retreat.