The Chinese soldiers settled in the hills seem well-behaved—many of them are ex-students who have no further opportunity of continuing their studies—taxes are not oppressive, and everywhere one meets with courtesy and consideration. Here and there are pathetic evidences of the wreck of war in houses and villages burnt out. We met recently a lad from Szechuen recruited a year ago and now to all appearances homeless fand helpless, In the fighting up in the hills Inst winter his little company found themselves completely cut off, fand for a week existed somehow on a piece or two of bread each. Starving Jand frozen these lads from the warmer south fought on in deep snow, their numbers thinning off one by one. A mere handful escaped with their lives, of whom this Ind was one, His legs terribly frozen he somehow found his way to a dressing station, and now six' months later, effectively de~ mobilized' and sil suffering the effects of his privations, he is stranded hundreds of miles from home. Of how many others he is typical it is dificult to say. Their position is al~ deviated to ome extent by the kindness of the Chinese peasants who take them into their own homes and Took after them until happier days arrive.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.