CHINESE HERO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1940, Page 9

CHINESE HERO

/ HOW PRIVATE CHANG WON 7 A BATTLE. In November 1936 there was desperate fighting between the Chinese and invading Mongolian and Mahchukuo troops.-A-.lnvaders from Charbar launched a heavy attack on Kweihua, and had Kweihua fallen China must have lost another province. When the two armies met, Private Chang Yang Hsian, driver of one of the few tanks in the Chinese army, did a magnificent thing. With the enemy advancing south, the Chinese did not wait to be attacked. They made a bold march forward, and were opposed by a strong garrison In oder to break a way through, the tanks were sent on before the infantry and artillery. There was a terrible moment when the attack seemed doomed to defeat. Raked by heavy fire, riddled by shot, the tanks were held up. Several were shattered. The drivers of others were killed. The hail of lead was so furious that advance seemed to mean certain death. Chang's tank was out of action, and Chang himself was severely wounded in the arm. All about him were dead, and the attempt to beat back the enemy had come to a standstill.

Leaping from his disabled tank, he ran across open country to the next machine. How he escaped being struck down by a score of bullets is a mystery, but he reached the other tank in safety, took the place of the dead driver, set the great mass of armour-plat-ed machinery moving, and charged towards the enemy. Encouraged by his example, drivers who had held back linked forces with him, and a metal wedge was driven into the enemy lines. The infantry followed with a cheer, and a great surge of Chinese troops won through to victory, breaking the Mongolian brigades, and winning a vital position. Today Private Chang is one of China's heroes.