Evening star., 1935-01-20

BY the Associated Press.
CHANG SHA. Human Province,
China (By MaiD The red wave
sweeping this South Central China
province is washing American mis-
sionaries before it.
Not since 1927, when Chang Kai-
Shek's Nationalist legions swept into
the YangtSe Valley from South China
has there been such an exodus OF
American religious workers from their
stations in this area.
China's Communist armies, Slop-
ping over into Human Province before
Gen. Chiang's crushing drive in ada
cent Kiangsi, have disrupted American
missionary efforts in this part of the
country.
Americans of many missions repre-
sented here have had to flee for their
lives. Men, women and children have
suffered hardship and privation in the
escape from their threatened stations.
Story Told by Refugees.
The story of little band of Ameri-
cans, trapped in the river port Of
Changteh by attacking reds, who sue
ceeded in escaping by boat. was un-
folded. On the arrival of the refugee
party here, by Rev. J. E. Graham of
Carbondale, Pa, worker of the Chris
tian and Missionary Alliance. which
has headquarters in New York.
The 81 miSsionarieS-moStly Ameri-
cans-lived through widest uncer-
tainty" before the order to evacuate
came from the authorities, he said.
Rumor after rumor of imminent Com
munist attack kept the group uneasy.
But when the attack finally came, it
was unexpected.
Out of clear sky, Mr.. Graham
said, "came the electrifying news that
the Reds, under the notorious Gen.
Lo Hung, had reached point within
seven miles of the city. They had
come upon the government troops
from the rear and demoraliZed them
so completely that they fed in wild
disorder One detachment of gov
ernment troops-said to number close
to 1000-had its retreat cut off and
was faced with the alternative Of fac
ingS the Reds and certain death or
leaping into the river, most of the
trapped men chose the river and we're
drowned.
Warned to Leave Immediately.
"The missionaries were warned by
the authorities to leave the city i'm
mediately. Those who lived outside
the city walls were able to charter
junks and make ready for departure
down river to Changsha. But those
inside the city walls were caught like
rats. We gathered few of our more
portable belongings and attempted to
leave through the city gates. But the
troops at the gates refused to open
way for us, insisting that an attack
by the Reds was momentarily ex-
,pected.
1--WE returned to our home and were
kept awake all that night by incessant
firing. We learned later that the
rifle fire came entirely from the city
garrison, which was trying to keep
up its courage by firing at an unseen
enemy.
"On the following day we made an
other attempt to make our escape
and finally, after lengthy arguments,
were permitted to leave the city. To
do so, however, We had to scale a
high barricade of baled cotton at the
city entrance. We made our way to
the river where we joined the other
members of the missionary colony
who were ready to set sail.
Expectant Mothers a Problem.
"The three expectant mothers were
Our greatest problem. Our over
crowded boats were not the most de-
sirable place for the stork to suddenly
make his appearance. There was
nothing else to do, however, but at
tempt to make the best speed possible
In our antiquated boats, in the hope
Of reaching the hospital at Changsha.
Unfortunately, however, the boats
were not built for speed. We soon dis
covered that our little feet could make
no better than two miles an hour"
: Mr.. Graham told how the boats had
gone scarcely 1Smiles when they were
obliged, in dead of night, to tie up at
the small village of Nu-Pi-Tan. Mrs.
Graham, one of the three expectant
mothers, was moved ashore and
small room over a mission chapel made
into an improvised hospital. An hour
after her arrival Mrs. Graham became
the mother Of a girl.
Nu-Pi-Tan Endangered.
about this time" Mr.. Graham con-
tinued, excited villagers told us the
Reds were carrying out an encircling
movement and Nu-Pi-Tan was in dam
ger. We decided, however, to risk
staying another day, as the doctor
advised against the immediate removal
of Mrs. Graham. Our decision was
providential, for toward noon Of that
day son was born to Mrs. w. Wager
of Oxdrift, Ontario, in the same make
shift hospital
New rumors reached us that eve
ming. This time we we're told the
Communists had split into small groups
and were overrunning the nearby
countryside, plunderlng ana Kllllng.
There was no chance of leaving then,
however, so several of us stood guard
all night outside the mission building.
In the morning we decided we
must wait no longer. The two moth
ers were carried on stretchers to the
river bank and placed in small boats.
Then our flotilla continued its way
<,ou,1ctraapo At HanSbnw mort
about 20 miles below Changteh, COM
Portable quarters were found for Mrs.
Graham and Mrs. Wager in the sta
ton of the Christian and Missionary
Alliance, in charge of Misses H. and
M. Hilty of Pandora, Ohio. The moth
ers and infants are little the worse
for their experience and are making
excellent progress.