It had been decided to evacuate the city, offering no resistance, so the government authorities lind left that morning. This saved Wuting from the fate of neighbouring towns which bombed and despoiled "punishment" for pluckily showing fight in defence of their homes and families. 'The only preparation for defence had been pathetically amateur, anyhow, such as the des-{ruction' of a small bridge on the
trid the digging of a hole across an-nowy-opened Eacling "motor, road, ollier -Foxd. A tank could have crossed this with case, arrival, unannounced, was the occasion for exuberant relief on the part of-the mission and hospital Sur, 'After weeks of strain with consiont Mights overhead of bomb-faden planes, they cheerfully relinquished all responsibility to us. We were fortunate in getting telegrams out that night announcing to our' felends that" we had safely reached Wuting, for no further mes sages went in or out for another month. The telegraph and post offices, had been closed down, but the Christian postmaster foun quarters with nur workers, and such mail-og at last found its way to him there, to our great The Japanese came into the city Jat dawn on November 12, and such business as had kept going immediately ceased. A' dozen or 30 civilian victims of the military jusgernaut found their way to our care during the next days. For those who lay dead we could do nothing. Later came others who suffered at the hands of bandits. During. the Fast we years banditry had been entirely put down by the local authorities, but it is an unhappy fact China that on the removal of the strong hand of organized govern ment lawlessness quickly arises.
It wes some time before folk began to move about. The weather was cold, and it was not, pleasant to have to "sell" one's padded gown to a sentry for 20 cents, or one's donkey for 10° cents. Women remained in hiding, as victorious armies have similar characteristics all over the world, and have had through the ages.
Wating was made a supply base for the al lack on Tsinan, which fizzled out so. Lorries came and went day and night, but normal cart Trae practically ceased, and shops were unable to obtain ' stores for business oF to replace what was lost Tooting. One great hardship was the scarcity of coal. In the hospital meant the emptying of the hot water radiators, and. the use of wood-burning stoves as far as possible.
Patients, (other than civilian war casualties) were few, as travel was precarious. Women were con spietious by their absence, so the main Women's Werd, for' the first time for years, was closed. A sol-num was transformed into a temporary operating theatre to conserve Such warmth as the sun gave.
Trips to Tientsin With the Now Year we planned to get out to Tientsin to our waiting families and friends, some of whom vadly needed the winter clothing they had not taken with them in the summer. Moreover the time of the annual Synod meets approaching. The Jap tics spared no pains to help us, and with an escort in the front seat, we Grove without incident to Tehchow, whence we received a military pass fon the railway to Tientsin. We shall shortly returning, all being well.
Such Japanese as we met, once we entered into negotiations" with them, and. travelled among them, were largely ignorant of the true Slate of affairs. "Some evidently imgained they were bringing peace and prosperity to a Jand of chaos, whol the truth i that wir district Trad
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.