Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
Rev. Otto Braskamp, on Visit
Here, Tells OF IchoWfu
Siege.
Remained at Post After
Others Had Fled From
BeIeaguered City.

fenGerS fCpStIlng tTleIn WITH SHOWERS VI
ouicklime, armies with field telephone
systems. artillery laboriously drawn by
oxen with ammunition following behind
in wheelbarrows.
Such were some Of the contrasts in
the siege of Ichowfu, in southern
Shantung. as related by Rev. Otto
Braskamp. an American Presbyterian
missionary. who has just returned to
this country after safely passing
through narrowing experiences during
the early fighting that LED finally 10
success GROWING the Nationalist arms
Of all the American missionaries IN MS
district. Rev. Mr.. Braskamp alone re-
manned at his post during the pro-
tracted siege, risking his life daily
under fire in acts Of heroiSm 10 render
services to refugees and first aid 10
the wounded cared for by the Red Cross.
After the fall of the city he made his
way by foot on perilous eight-day
journey through bandit-mfesteo
region until he reached the railway
that brought him safely to Tsingtau.
Il Years Service in China.
Rev. Mr.. Braskamp is a brother OF
the Rev. Bernard Braskamp. pastor OF
the Gunton- Temple Memorial Presby-
terrain Church of this city. and is visit
ING him at his residence here prior to
returning TO his home in Alton, Iowa.
and on to the Worlds Sunday School,
convention as a delegate from the
China Sunday School Union. The
convention will be held in Los Angeles
July IL TO 10.
During the civil war In China, Rev.
Mr.. Braskamp was the only American
missionary left in the interior OF Snan-
tung. His sister. Miss Christina j.
Braskamp, who was also missionary
in the same province, returned to this
country when the war broke out and is
now a teacher in the Bible Institute
AT Los Angeles. After years furlougn
Rev. Mr.. Braskanp plans to return TO
China, where he has spent II years as
a missionary.
Mr.. Braskamp was one of a mission
group of 10 in his station OF 1chowfu
who received seven kilograms from the
consul to leave the threatened city. All
but Mr.. Braskamp left, but he was de-
terrnined to see it through and the re-
suit of his courageous decision was
great deal of Red Cross work for
Chinese refugees, the raising of $4,000
to carry on Red Cross work. the pres
ervation of mission schools, hospitals.
orp1anages and mission houses worth
thousands of dollars
II feel that it was the special grace
and guidance of God that saved me,
said this missionary, who made no at
tempt during the 81 days siege OF
Ichowfu to escape from the critical
situation.
IF I had been ordered out by the
Nationalist I would have gone gladly"
he said, but I came in close contact
with both sides, soldiers and generals,
and all treated me very cordially"
The Chinese in the city and country
fields urged Mr.. Braskan1p to stay on,
and they respected him very highly,
presenting him with 9 beautifully col
cred satin and silk banners and 10
pairs of scrolls.
Mr.. Braskamp related to a reporter
for The Star a vivid tale of the ex-
periences through which he passed,
particularly of the scenes within the
besieged city Of Tchowfu.
Sixty Miles From Railway.
1T was, indeed, a strange medley Of
the Middle Ages and the twentieth GEN.
fury, this month-long beleaguerment OF
the city, ana. although little about 1t
ever appeared in the newspapers, II
was probably the longest and most de-
termined siege that any city has with
stood during the recent fighting IN
China" said Mr.. Braskanp.
''Ichowfu Is right of the beaten track
in southern Shantung, go miles from
the nearest railway. There are rail-
ways TO the north, west and south, but
the appalling conditions created over
large areas by the bandits are shown
By the fact that when wished TO reach
the outside world / had TO do eight
days travelling by foot or wheelbarrow
over the northern route. which was the
only safe one, until reached the rail-
way. which ran through TO Tsingtau
"Oyerrun by lawless troops and
bandits and stricken with famine. civil
strife and turmoil acute suffering pre-
walls in most parts OF China" he de-
clared. Provincial populations driven
desperate by the insecurity OF life, have
emigrated by millions 10 Manchuria.
"Ichowfu was the high water mark
Of the Southern or Nationalist drive
against Sun Chang Fang in Shantung
and the siege of the city was only
abandoned after II Nationalist di-
visions had been unsuccessfully brought
UP against 1t. Inside of the city there
were 10000 Northern soldiers and a
civilian population OF rather under
million, and food supplies ran so short
toward the end that do not think the
city could have held out much longer.
Both rides we're equipped with ar
tiilery. machine guns and the usual in
! fantry fighting equipment, but It is
plain that these letnai weapons were not
uged vith very much skill or else am
muniticS. Was scarce for the result
Of months continual gniping during
the DAYTIME and numerous ATTEMPTS tn
storm the walls at night was 500 men
killed On the Southern side, and a
thousand within the city, OF whom
about half were civilians"
The reason modern artillery failed
10 knock a medieval city wall into
| srnithereens. Mr.. Braskanip explained,
| was that the brickwork was merely the
| facing Of a huge earthen embank-
| n1ent on the inside. His description of
] the Southern attempts TO capture the
city leave an oId-tigne flavor. The at
taekers made 100 bamboo ladders vide
/ enough for six men abreast These
were only so feet long. so that the
! ft6rmin3 troops had another 40 feet
| 10 go when they reached the ton of
/ the ladders, but there was slight
! slope To the wall ami various hanA-
| holds and foothoids available, and six
| times during the seige the i3odv4l .u....
| were on the brink of success bad tbay
only known IT. Each time, however.
they called of the attack just as the
defense was cracking.
Primitive Fighting Methods.
i The Hortherners on the city walls
used the old primitive method Of large
| bowls Of quicklifne, showering ii1@n on
il1e enemies heads ia order 10 blind