from Hangchow Shanghai, Aug. 14 "We received the most courteous treatment throughout, and all the Chinese soldiers seemed. to realize the diMoully we were in," said the Rev, Charles Boynton last night when he described to a representative of the "North-China Daily News" how he,. Mrs, Boynton and Dr. E: Stanley Jones had driven from Hangchow to Shanghai yesterday via Soochow and Chenju, aetually entering the International Settlement from Boundary Road after dark Jast night.. They were forced to take this unusual route from Hangchow, he said, because "the Hangchow' road was impassable.
Heavy troop concentrations were noted by the little party. between Shanghai and Chenju, including two armoured trains at the latter city; these trains were camouflaged and carried heavy guns and anti-aircraft guns. Between Kungshan and Soo chow, they said, innumerable parties of coolies, between two and' three hundred men strong, were to be found clearing paddy fields to a depth of fifty feet to. build approaches to bridges suitable for heavy motor traffic or pontoon bridges. Thousands of soldiers were encountered, in full marching kit, on all roads "leading towards Shanghai, 'The party left Mokanshan at 7 o'clock yesterday morning, and Hangchow at 1030 am, Thelt route from that city lay on the new motor road to Kashing, Pingwang, Soochow, Kunshan and Chenju, Mr, Boynton, who is with the National' Christian Council, was the only member of the party able to speak Chinese "atter a fashion." here about 31 years," he said, "and speak enough Chinese to ask direc tions and understand simple words of advice" Dr. Stanley Jones is on fa visit to China from India.
Challenged Frequently comparatively 'After leaving Up'.to Chenju, their route was
[Chenju, however, they were challenge-= Jed every 100 yards or so by sentries, bhut managed to get by upon produc~ Ing their passports, distributing visit= ing cards and smiling in a friendly fashion. "They frst tried to turn off the road from Chenju into Chungshan Road, but were stopped by. Chinese soldiers who had strung out across the road and were holding back a huge horde of refugees.
These soldiers were friendly, but said that the Chungshan Road had been "cut," and was impassable, The foreign trio continued on down the road from Chenju, and then tried to get through the Connaught Road barrier. This was heavily padlocked, with barbed wire all over the place, and they perforce had to continue travelling east until they arrived at the Shanghai North Statio "The North Station was deserted as the Sahara, said Mr, Boynton, "with the exception of six or eight soldiers, all steel helmets and fully "armed, who were standing guard by the main entranee—you know, where you go in to buy your railway tickets. 'They Kalted our car, but we. smiled and explained, and' they eventually let us through to Boundary Road, oh which not a soul was to be ccen:*
Friendly Engineer They next tried to get through at Cunningham Road—this was. shortly ater 6 o'clock last night—but found it barricaded, the gate padlocked and sand-bagged. Russian volunteers said it was impossible for them to got through. They tried other gates. to the west of Cunningham Road, and with the same result, "They returned to Elgin Road, and there Mr. Boynton met a P.W.D. engineer who was familiar with his name.
The engineer told them to return. fo Cunningham Road, and said he would try to get a police inspector to Jopen the gate and let them in, They accordingly went back along "Boundary Road, and. waited, and waited, and waited. Eventually, a police inspector came along and opened the ware, and they were safe in. the International Settlement at last.
'While they were waiting in the dane un Boundary Road, Mr, Boynton said, fey could' hear frequent. machine Gun ire and the occasional boom of heavier guns; the sound of the fung seemed fo come from the north-east, the @irection of Hongkew Park.
Mr, Yoynton concluded by emphasis zing that they had met with the most courteous treatment from the Chinese soldiers, who appeared to be quite friendly though none the fess serious about ¢he whole affair, "M* Boynton Said that, as far as ho could judge, the road' from Chenju closed soon, after they passed.
Locat relict organizations have opened 2 bureau of lust persons. Senchitang on Yunnan' Road commodate und later repatriate war refugees, who may lose track of thelt China
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.