Prest Revren's Srocrat, ConmrsrowDexr With the Chinese Forces Somewhere in Shansi, Mar, 30.
a remote Shansi village, I unexpectedly encountered three Japanese prisoners who were engaged in the translation of [political writings for their captors, Travelling in the company of fa Chinese divisional commander, who was on his way to his division in cupied" territory, we rode into a mountain village about mid-day, and stopped to investigate.
We were shown around, and were introduced to the prisoners, who were dressed in faded blue Chinese uniforms, indistinguishable from those of other workers in the village, which turned out ike a political centre, 'They were typical Japanese pea Jsante." Speaking through o Korean interpreter, one of them said he was Jo farmer's' son. He had been called the colours, trained as a lorry-driver, and sent to China.
'The other two also said they were lorry drivers, and reported that they yhad™ been captured when they had lost themselves near Linfeng, in west /Shansi. Replying to questions, they said they were well treated by their 'Chinese' captors.
'Asked their opinion, tears came to their eyes; they hung their heads, and glanced hesitatingly towards one another; then one, bolder than his chows,' spoke.
The war," he said, "Is one of [Japanese imperialism, and China 1s Aghting for justice and peace."
Unable to Return His comrades and he thought Japan would soon be bankrupt: China would be victoriowy, but would be a humane victor. They were unhappy, the prisoners told me, because according to Japanese law soldiers once taken as prisoner were not allowed to return to their native land.
Two things have so far struck me my journey through Shensi and First, the avowed determination on ithe part of the mass of the common people to resist the Japanese; and, Secondly, the extremely thorough process of organizing the peasantry, Doth politically and militarily.
village, however small, is' with-lout a politieat education centre which Jorganizes meetings, speeches and plays, and displays posters. Even in hamlets, the, village head conducts proceedings with ald from the near-lest large centre, where there is usufally an office' of the "Salvation Through Sacrice Association" and Jother bodies engaged in this work.
Local self-defence corps are also being used as a means of giving the people elements of military training a more systematic form than they have had in the past,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.