WORKING FOR WOUNDED

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 169, 14 April 1939, Page 1

WORKING FOR WOUNDED

DOCTOR’S EXPERIENCES GOOD OPINION OF CHINESE RESULT' OF WAR IN DOUBT “If 'tlnyone asks me who is going to win the war, all I can say is I do' not know,” said Dr. Gr. Maaka, formerly of Napier, ini an address to the Napier Rotary Club. Dr. Maaka returned recently from a visit to China, during which he assisted hospital authorities in various areas. “Three months ago the soldier didJ not know about a gun, hut now he is an, accomplished soldier,” he added. “He is the type of man who can endure terrific pain and suffering with a .smile. The fighting, I think, will go on for some time yet.” Women Hauling Guns. With Dr. Tj. A. Watson, also formerly of Napier, Dr. Maaka was sent last June to. take over work in the interior of China. When he arrived in Hong Kong he found Chinese women hauling guns and ammunition in preparation for their transport into the interior. “We set out fpr Hankow, on the banks of the Yang-tse River, about 500 miles from Hong Kong,” he said. “We travelled by train under tiring conditions, and after three or f6ur d!ays wo arrived at Hankow at 2 o’clock in tlie morning. The station was crowded with Chinese refugees in recumbent attitudes.” Describing the fortifications of the French concession in Hankow, Dr. Mhaka said that although the Japanese might bombard Hankow they would think twice before dropping a bomb in the concession. For Six Months. At Hankow the two doctors separated, Dr. Maaka going to Ichang, and Dr. Watson to the Hopang province. In the hospital in Ichang, Dr. Maaka served for six months, working sometimes in the rickety building from 8 o’clock in the morning until 11 o’clock at night. It seemed to him that the position was hopeless, but when his term had ended he left with the feeling that he had dbne something to ease the burden of the countess thousands there. At the expiry of the period Dr. Maaka. found that he had to leave by what was known as the “backdoor” of China. Cliung-King was crowded wijih beggars, and after staying there for a few days he left by a Chinese bus for Kuming. He had been warned that they would probably be -held up by bandits or tipped off! the road. However, the trip over the road, which was now the only means of access to Chung-King since the closing of the river and railway by the Japanese, was uneventful. Between CliungKing and Kuming, he said, some of the Chine.se possessed definitely negroid characteristics, and appeared to be the most backward people in China. "Football 1 ' Goitres In Kuming he found that every second person had goitre, some of them, using Dr. Maaka’s words, being “as large as footballs”. When he arrived back in Hong Kong there was considerable' fuss over the fact that Japanese bombs had fallen in British territory. He took over the position as doctor to a camp of some 5000 Chinese, and during a smallpox epidemic in the camp he had contracted a slight touch, although lie had been inoculated twice. The Oiinese people had. been very kind to him he said. . They were very optimistic and did everything they could for him. He had come into contact with many missionaries and Quakers in his travels, and he was astounded at the work they were doing.