DOOMED BATTALION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1938, Page 6

DOOMED BATTALION

NOW HUNGER=STRIKING DESIROUS OF REJOINING ARMY SEQUEL TO THE SHANGHAI BATTLE By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. (Recd This Day, 1.5 p.m.) ■' SHANGHAI, August 14. The members of the “doomed battallion” are hunger-striking; demanding to rejoin the army. It was reported from Shanghai on August 11 that after a two-hour battle Russian volunteers quelled a riot by men of the famous “doomed battalion,” which has been interned in the International Settlement since last October. Members of the battalion hoisted the Kuomintang flag and the Russians tore it down. Three Chinese were killed. 40 serious injured, and 50 slightly injured. Ten Russians were seriously injured. The camp was a shambles.’ Several Chinese were believed to have escaped. ’ When the Chinese retreated from Shanghai late in October last a battalion of troops known as the “Dare and Dies” or the “doomed battalion” electted to stay on instead of retiring and stated that they preferred to die fighting. They fought in a most heroic manner in wrecked Chapei, keeping the Chinese flag flying there, and held their fort until the withdrawing forces had completed their passage back through a bottleneck. Before the retirement was complete the battalion was cut off, and, their post being alongside the International Settlement, great crowds of Chinese came to bring them comforts. The foreign guards on the south side of Soochow Creek finally had to intervene to prevent complications. On October 31 the troops were ordered by General Chiang Kai-shek to retire. They made a dash for safety across the Tibet Bridge. About 20 were wounded, but 338 got through and were interned at the racecourse. •