I I u V ■> 1 ■a.-TYv- ^ Our Mission in China Faced the Terrors of War Hospital Flags above Mission Compound Wall at Yochotu City BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS REFORMED CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES FIFTEENTH AND RACE STREETS PHILADELPHIA, PA. Captain and private soldier of Northern Army. Dr. Hoy and Mr. Owen with Red Cross badges. A Story of Present Interest. Allen B. Bartholomew. T here have been critical days in the his- tory of our China Mission, but nothing to compare with the harrowing experi- ences of our workers for the period of time extending from January 27 to March 20. We are certain that the reports of the mission- aries about the fierce battles at Yochow City have been very tame in comparison with the actual conditions. One thing is sure, the for- eign missionaries never exaggerate in telling of their work. They need not do so, for the facts always carry their own message to the hearts of the people. Dr. Beam assures is that the marshalling of fifty thousand troops at Yochow City, and the killing of many soldiers, did not occur without the anticipation of our workers. They knew this bloody exper- ience had to be faced, and they did all they could to prepare so that they might act the part of the Good Samaritan. The enemy can produce wounds and cause injury, but the friend can heal and restore. To see the Stars and Stripes float over our compound with the Red Cross flag beneath it, in one of the pic- tures, should, send a thrill of joy through every loyal, loving heart. Nerve-racking as the serv- ice must have been, there is not a missionary who regrets the experience. And they deserve the lasting gratitude of the members of our Church for enduring hardships as good sol- diers of Jesus Christ. For the past year the Province of Hunan has been the scene of many fierce encounters between the government and the revolutionists. It is very difficult for any forei^er to unravel the present web of political intrigue, or to estimate the real force of the parties struggling for power. That great statesman, John Hay, gave it as his conviction that “the storm centre of the world would gradually pass from the 4 Our Mission in China. Balkans, from Constantinople, from the Per- sian Gulf, from India, to China,” and he further said, “whoever understands that mighty empire — socially, politically, economically, re- ligiously — has the key to the world politics for the next five centuries.” This is m full accord with a current writer who declares that “the Chinese question is the world ques- tion of the twentieth century.” No one can study the progress of the times without a deep- ening sense that the event most fraught with meaning for the rest of the world is the awak- ening of the East. The city of strategic importance in Hunan is Yochow, with a population of about fifty thousand. It is situated on Tung- ting Lake, whose waters flow into the Yangtze, five miles distant from the city. It is tfie bolt which locks the water gate of Hunan, so that no boat can enter or leave the province save with the permission of V'ochow. It has always been a military centre. Previous to the Taiping rebellion there was kept here a great supply of arms — in the shape of long spears and tower muskets which the Taipings captured in the closing days of 1852, and arming their followers with these they swept right down to Nanking, taking every city en route with the first rush. “China,” said one of the most thoughtful men of that nation not long ago, “is athirst for leaders/’ Her great difficulties at this moment may be traced to the principle of “bal- ance of power.” The north and the south are in more or less of a deadlock. The military leaders are all about equal in strength, and all seem to be naturally jealous of their powers and afraid of each other. The Chinese people have come to the parting of the ways. They are emerging from an apathetic past in which they have been buried for hoary ages, and they are manifesting a desire to accept the lessons of modern Christian civilization. Two great reforms have taken place in China that prove Faced the Terrors of IVar. 5 them to be one of the most earnest and capable races of the world. That great heathen nation has made more progress in five years against her greatest national evil, opium, than America has made in a century against her curse, liquor. And China has set her face against foot-binding, the great curse for women. It is a significant fact that the American missionaries in China are among the most active forces working for a true democ- racy. One would suppose that the sol- diers in their mad rage would destroy the lives and properties of missionaries, but it is cause for devout gratitude that both armies look upon them as friends, and in many cases they have been used as mediators. It was in our compound at Lakeside that three thousand women and children sought refuge during the latter days of January, and hundreds of sol- diers found a safe retreat in our buildings at Yochow. On March 25, Mr. Beck reports that ten thousand found refuge in the temporary sheds on the Yochow compound, and were fed. About a thousand made their way to Lakeside. One of the cheering facts amid the warring factions is the widespread readiness to hear the Gospel. The missionaries have been brought nearer to the life of the people, and in the time of intense suffering their message has been more welcomed than in the days of pros- perity. These are the tidings that come to us from the field : “The door stands wide open for evangelization of all kind. There is great willingness to listen and less opposition tfian ever before.” Will we not see a new challenge, a loud call in the bitter trials through which our mission- aries are passing in these days? Never did such golden opportunities present themselves to our Church. Red Cross boys front Lakeside. This squad with Mr. Owen made the first excursion to battlefield. Faced the Terrors of IVar. 7 AN EXPLANATION OF THE POLITICAL TURMOIL. Prof, Horace B. Lequear. W HEN friends in the home Church hear of military operations or riots endangering the lives and property of our China Mission at Yochow City or Shenchowfu, many are inclined to associate the disturbances with the anti- foreign attitude of the Chinese in the past. However, the constant danger, to mission- aries from anti-foreign propaganda largely ended with the crisis of 1900, when the Chinese government tried to drive all foreigners out and failed so dismally that the most ignorant and bigoted of the Chinese officials and upper classes saw that they were on the wrong track if China was to amount to anything in the modern world. From 1900 to 1911 Christian missionaries were tolerated and even favored by many in authority both civil and military. In 1911 the Manchu dynasty was overthrown by those who wished to make China a republic. The rebel- lion started in Hankow about one hundred miles down the Yangtse River from Yochow City and though we at Yochow City and Shenchowfu were very uneasy for a few months, yet the rebellion was quickly success- ful, and the Republic of China was estab- lished. To some, the establishment of the republic meant the end of internal political troubles; but to others who remembered the history of such movements in other nations in the past it meant the beginning of a great political strupele between the conservative and the pro- gressive elements among the Chinese people, which would end only when a republican gov- ernment can be established on more stable foundations. The old official class was still a powerful influence in Chinese affairs. Only five per Nearly a thousand women and children found shelter and food in these mat houses on our Mission Compound. Faced the Terrors of IVar. 9 cent, of the men of China and perhaps only one per cent, of the women could read and write. Newspapers were few and usually very poorly edited, partly because they were of very limited circulation. Roads were poor and merely foot paths over a great part of China. Few railroads were built. Hence travel and communication were very slow. These stub- born facts, together with the hold the old official class had on the people because they were the ones who could read and explain the only literature China had, were and are to this day great stumbling blocks to the growth of true democracy among this great people of four hundred millions. Since the revolution in 1911 two attempts have been made to set up a monarchy again. In 1913 Yuan Shi Kai, the temporary presi- dent, attempted to make himself emperor and establish a new dynasty. This aroused the republicans all over the land of China and again there was civil war which ended within the year because of the death of Yuan. In 1916 an attempt was made to re-establish the Manchu dynasty, dethroned in 1911. This also ended in speedy failure, but not before we had some more civil war. All this time a parliament was struggling along trying to maintain the republic, but lack- ing knowledge and experience in political mat- ters that are so familiar to Americans, they fell into factions and sectionalism and hope- less tangles. The present political turmoil and rioting at Yochow is a natural product of such condi- tions and centers at Yochow City at present, because it is the meeting point between north and south, east and west, being on the great Yangste River which flows from west to east, and on the one railroad between north and south. Though these events make life harder for the missionary, yet they seem to help rather than hinder tfie growth of the Kingdom of 10 Our Mission in China. Northern Soldier. The northern men are all well pro- vided with clothes and everything that made for comfort, and they are mostly big, husky-looking men, large framed and very “tough” looking. Faced the Terrors of War. 11 God in China. This is because of the part the missionaries and missionary institutions play as a place of refuge and advice and com- fort to this great people in the midst of their own troubles. This turbulent life is more hope- ful than the dead silence of bygone years. PREPARATIONS MADE FOR THE FATAL CLASH. Dr. J. Albert Beam. I N anticipation of what seemed an inevitable clash between the northern and southern forces in the region around about this city, the local Red Cross Society, under the lead- ership of Mr. Heinrichsohn, began active prepar- ation to care for the men injured in battle and for those who would be made homeless by the military operations here and in the neighboring community. The organization was perfected and contributions secured; Extra wooden beds were placed in our hospital and three addi- tional buildings were secured for us as emerg- ency hospitals. In these, alterations of various sorts had to be made. The floors of one had to be strengthened by large timbers to make them safe as hospital wards; narrow stairways were replaced by wide ones to make it possi- ble to carry patients up and down. In another, the large combination guild hall, temple and theatre just across the street from our com- pound, long galleries or balconies were en- closed by straw mats and broad stairways built. Then rough wooden beds were con- structed, several hundred of them, and pro- vided with rice straw in place of regular bed ticks. Metal chart holders, bed pans, tincups, lamps, charcoal burners, and many other things were thought of and provided. Dressing rooms were fitted up and large quantities of gauze and bandage material were purchased locally and prepared for use by the Mission hospital staff of nurses, convalescents, both men and 12 Our Mission in China. Southern Soldier. The southerners are little brown men, all skin and bone, living, and full of fiery enthusiasm and vigor. They wore sandals, huge bandages, and enormous bamboo hats which they used as shields and helmets. Faced the Terrors of War. 13 women. Girls in the school, teachers and other ladies of the Mission aided in preparing materials for dressings. Extra supplies of drugs were gotten up from Hankow and Shanghai, and several physicians were em- ployed to assist in caring for these hospitals. Of course Red Cross patients have to eat, so generous sized kitchens were built; coal, coke and fire wood were purchased in quantity and many bushels of rice stored away to meet the demands of several hundred patients for an indefinite time. Cases of tinned milk, salt and other things used in preparing food were included in the preparations. Then it was remembered that the beautiful fall weather was likely to give way any time without notice to the nasty, chilly rainy season which is a part of every winter here, so several hundred comforters were made by local tailors. Since doctors alone cannot run hospitals, a couple dozen of new men were taken into our hospital to receive some instruction in the care of patients. At the Lakeside School some twenty-four students volunteered for first aid work on the field. They were given a course of training in first aid to injured soldiers. For all these helpers regulation uniforms as pre- scribed by the National Chinese Red Cross So- ciety were provided. Twenty stretchers were designed and constructed locally. Several dozen picks and shovels were made in order that the dead might be properly buried. The Red Cross Society and the Chrisfian men of the community did not forget that in time of war many people are driven from their homes. In preparation for such an event large temporary shelters were erected on the Mis- sion compound, a kitchen of large capacity provided and much rice stored awSiy. In speaking of the work done during these two, now nearly three weeks, we must not overlook the faithful work done by the Chris- tian Chinese. In the hospitals and in the refuge work they rendered valiant service. In 14 Our Mission in China. going out to search for injured men and in bringing them in the boys from Lakeside re- flected much honor upon themselves and the school. A number of the non-Christian men of the city also gave much time and energy to the work we have had in hand. These have been dark days, and the future is not bright, but we believe God has been with us and we can go on with our task in full con- fidence that no matter what may happen to us, the cause we represent will be advanced, and out of all this confusion He will take honor upon Himself. FIRE, LOOTING, DEATH. Dr. William E. Hoy. L ast Sunday morning, January 27, 1918, I heard the voice of Mr. Owen call to me, “Yochow is burning.” My dressing was done in record time. The lurid flames painted the sky above the city with the colors of a miniature hell into which the pride of the place was falling. There must be ashes and mourning in the place of prosperity and laughter. “War is Hell.” Then the cutting questions, What of the missionaries, the Chi- nese Christians, our own Gertrude, our chapels, our hospital, our schools? A thousand dag- gers of solicitude rent the heart in twain. After a hurried breakfast, Mr. Owen and I went to- wards the scenes of devastation and desola- tion. As soon as we passed around the foot of the first hill, we saw that our large Mission lot was intact. This afforded us some relief as far as the matter of property was concern- ed ; but we still had the bigger questions be- fore us — What of our missionaries? I can never describe what a burden rolled off my mind when we learned upon our arrival at the Mission that no personal harm had come nigh unto our dear people. However, I will allow some of them to write you that dark night of suspense. Truly God was with them and delivered them. Faced the Terrors of War. 15 When it became evident to the Northern troops that they must evacuate they lost no time in looting and burning the main part of the business quarters of Yochow City. There were also abominable acts of cruelty commit- ted. In some instances, it is said, people were locked in their houses and compelled to perish by fire. Some of the Red Cross men and several of our missionaries tried to fight the fire; but they were driven away at the point of the bayonet. A few of the Chinese mem- bers of the Red Cross were shot at. Under such circumstances, there could be no organ- ized effort made to save life and property. I returned home in the afternoon under mil- itary escort by southern soldiers and a large Red Cross flag; and twice I heard the bullets whistle over me. I asked the soldiers what that meant. They said it was done in fun, to see whether those soldiers yonder could hit iny flag! When I protested they shouted to the other soldiers to cease firing at this flag. Yesterday morning I again paid an early visit to Yochow City, and found that they had had an easier night than the night before. How- ever, they told me of a number of serious dan- gers that had happily been averted. The place was better guarded. I went through all our Red Cross Hospitals and spoke with many of the wounded soldiers, now of both armies. It was heart-rending to see severely wounded northern soldiers roll themselves from the beds, prostrate themselves before me, and cry out, “Old Pastor, save us.” This because southern soldiers had forcibly entered some of the wards and shot dead some of the northern wounded. .\11 I could do was to assure them that affairs wefe growing better. During this visit to the Red Cross Hospitals, I realized most deeply what Christlike work the doctors, nurses, and the' Red Cross people are doing. What are danger and bullets to them in their labors of love? 16 Our Mission in China. The old man, a merchant who met with hard usage at the hands of soldiers, re- mains at the Guild Hall in the capacity of a helper. Mr. Djang Dzi Siu, Lakeside School graduate, and evangelist, here in the capacity of Red Cross officer. Faced the Terrors of fVar. 17 THRELLING EVENTS OF THE TEEEIBLE ENCOUNTER. Mrs. F. Earl Heinilchsoliii. F or several weeks after these preparations were made, military affairs seemed to be at a standstill. There was talk of an armistice and we hoped that an under- standing could be reached between the warring factions which would render all these prepara- tions unnecessary. However, there were persistent rumors that the south was planning an attack, and on Wed- nesday, January 23, the attack came. The fighting began at several different points locat- ed from 15 to 20 miles away from Yochow. At four o’clock that afternoon the first wound- ed were brought into our hospital. These wounded were northerners, of course. Thurs- day the fighting continued. More northerners wounded and reports that the northerners were being beaten and driven back. On Thursday night some half dozen fires were started at different points in our city by southern spiies who were concealed here. In spite of the high wind which was prevailing that night, all of these fires were nipped in the bud, except one which n^rew to rather large dimensions, and be- fore it was finally conquered, about a half dozen buildings were burned. On Friday wounded continued to pour stead- ily in, and there were rumors that the south- erners would capture Yochow next day. These rumors caused men, women and children in large numbers, to come to our compound to take advantage of the refuges which had been provided. However, Saturday passed without our seeing any southern troops here. We still had a thousand or so northern soldiers in town. On Saturday night some of these wanted to flee to Hankow, but were prevented by the general in command. As a result they nmtinied. About midnight firing began in the streets, and for a while there was a great 18 Our Mission in China. roaring of cannon and cracking of bullets. It seemed the northerners were trying to fire off as much ammunition as possible to keep it from falling into the hands of the southerners. After an hour or so of this terrific firing, it practically all ceased and we were hoping that the trouble was over for the night. Sud- denly there was a cry of fire, and soon the heavens were lit up with tremendous flames. The unruly northern soldiers, when they learned that they must give up the city, de- cided on a campaign of burning and looting before they left. They first robbed one of the largest silver shops on the principal street, then poured kerosene about in the building and set fire to it. All night the fire raged along the main street. Northern soldiers with fixed bayonets stood guard over it and would allow no one to approach to try to put it out. So it raged on for hours. Among the many build- ings burned was our principal street chapel. About 4 A. M. we heard that a band of southerners were entering the city. There were only forty or fifty men in the first band, but they came with a great rush and firing of rifles. The northern troops who were guard- ing the fire ran away, and at once our Red Cross boys — who had been driven away when they tried to help before — organized a fire bri- gade with such good success that in an hour or two they had the flames under control. It seems that this handful of southerners actually put all of our northerners to flight and we thought that the worst of our troubles would now be over, for Hunan is southern in its sympathy and there were Hunan troops among those who were coming to occupy the city. So the people of Yochow welcomed the new comers with open arms. Fire crackers galore were put off along the way as this vic- torious southern army continued to pour into the place all day Sunday. People ran after them with boxes of cigarettes and sweetmeats, Faced the Terrors of War. 19 and tubs of tea were placed along the street that they might refresh themselves. In the afternoon of this exciting Sunday, a number of us were on the upper veranda of the hospital watching the steady stream of sol- diers coming up the street. Queer looking soldiers they were, no uniforms, and for head coverings there were straw hats, pith hats, felt hats, fur caps, turbans, old military caps and almost every conceivable sort of headgear. Most of them wore straw sandals. All were provided with well-filled cartridge belts and carried modern rifles. Slung on their backs were large round bamboo rain hats, which, we were told, they use for shields. Many of them were armed with old fashioned looking swords and knives. A few carried brass trumpets, as long as themselves. Their outfit was quaint, but their faces were the faces of robbers and murderers. And such they proved to be — at least the larger part of them. It seems a large portion of this army is made up of Kwangsi bandits. As the entering troops came up one side of the street, a steady stream of the same kind of soldiers were pass- ing down the other side of the street. These latter were heavily laden. They had bundles of bedding, garments, shoes, umbrellas, rolls of cloth and of silk, clocks, hams, bottles of wine, sacks of flour, and all sorts of things. .\t first we thought that the people were giv- ing them presents. Then we concluded that they had picked up loot that the northerners had dropped, but we finally learned to our amazement, that these troops were looting shops and houses much more ruthlessly and thoroughly than the northerners had done. This was only the beginning of a reign of terror such as T hope I may never witness again. About 50.000 troops arrived that day. Soon we heard that bands of them were try- ing to enter our Red Cross hospitals for the purpose of killing the wounded nortliern sol- diers. Twice on Sunday, such bands were 2 ‘« •S^ S ^ E-c QJ t/) rt •o ^ V U U QJ S “ rt S -O _c E c'S O , ^ h -o ii a> c (A S C3 V o •Sat c o > o; V •£ E Refuge Sheds on our Mission Compound. Paced the Terrors of War. 21 driven out without their succeeding and carry- ing out their murderous plans. About eight o’clock in the evening, a messenger came run- ning to say that again some soldiers had en- tered one of the hospitals, meaning to kill the patients. Karl together with Drs. Adams and Young (the latter a Red Cross doctor) all ran over to save the poor fellows. They were met at the door by men with fixed bayonets. These weapons were pointed at their breasts and our men were told they would be run through if they came a step farther. So they were com- pelled to stay outside while these fiends did their awful work within. I cannot find out how many were killed before they were driven off, at least five or six, probably more. Some of the patients were bound and left with the assurance that the wretches would come back later and kill them. Is it any wonder that two of the wounded northerners have gone insane from fright? About ten o’clock that awful Sunday night, fire again broke out in the main part of the town, kindled this time, we were told, by the southerners. Soon it was raging more fiercely than the night before, for that night there had been no wind, while on Sunday night there was quite a high wind. We were so busy pro- tecting our compound and looking after the wounded, that we could not spare anyone to go and fight the fire, and the people of the town did not make a great effort to do so, they seemed to have lost their heads entirely. So all night we could see the flames raging. About midnight a panic occurred among the thousand women and children in our mat sheds. They had somehow heard that the sol- diers had made threat to burn the place so they all wanted to leave. They were finally persuaded to go into the church to spend the night. They moved in comparatively good order. All this time there was terrible crack- ing of rifles and rattling of rnachine guns. The soldiers seemed to be firing just to ter- IVen Miao" — Confucian Temple. Emergency Hospital for Southern Soldiers. Faced the Terrors of War. 23 rorize the people and the firing, as well as the wholesale robbing, were kept up until Monday afternoon. One of the victims of the street shooting, a girl shot through the chest, was brought into the hospital where she died. Two little girl babies were born in the woman’s hospital during the excitement of the night. To add to our personal anxieties, two of our servants, the cook and house boy — are northerners, and live nearby with their wives and families. We had to take them all into our house on Sunday and they are still here. There are besides at least a dozen other Chinese living in our basement. These soldiers are not at all bad. The guard of forty who are stationed about our compound, seem to be excellent soldiers and are guarding us faithfully. With such a rab- ble as we have had on the premises, it is really remarkable how orderly the people are, and how little thieving we have had. We have had the compound policed by boys in Red Cross uniforms. T^he school girls have be- haved so well — they ’have been very quiet and obedient. Many of these girls and most of our church members have had their homes robbed or burned or both. One of the most alarming features about these southern soldiers is their indifference to — I might almost say contempt for — the Red Cross flag. It has afforded very little protec- tion to our Red Cross workers — they have been shot at. and have had northern wounded taken away from them and put to death. They have certainly shown great bravery. The story of the work and experience in the hosnitals would fill pages. There are be- tween three and four hundred wounded being taken care of. Drs. Adams and Beam, several Chineses doctors. Misses Traub and Myers, and a lot of Chinese nurses and helpers are kept busy day and night. Our single ladies have been helping a great deal in the hospitals. For several days, squads of Lakeside Red Changsha Guild Hall — One of the Emergency Hospitals for Northern Soldiers. Facfd the Terrors of War. 25 Cross boys have been burying the dead, who are lying about the streets and in the houses. The telegraph instruments and wires have been destroyed, and we do not know what versions of the affair have found their way down river, but I hope no exaggerated reports have reached you people at home and made you anxious. I hope I may never have to live through another such experience, though at the same time I realize that things could have been much worse. SOLDIERS FORCE THEIR WAY INTO THE WOMAN’S HOSPITAL. Miss Alice E. Traub. D uring these three busy weeks in the men’s hospital, we were also very busy in the women’s hospital. We had two abdominal operations — the first in the history of our hospital. Neither of these two patients has had a temperature, and they are in good condition at the end of the first week. The nights of January 26, 27 and 28 are never to be forgotten. The night of the 26th, the southern troops were expected to arrive and take Yochow. The northern troops, prep- aratory to leaving, looted most of the big shops of the city, and set them on fire. All night and part of the next day (Sunday), the burning continued. The women and children patients (fifteen in all) were dressed, ready to move if the fire came close enough to en- danger our compound. On Sunday morning the first southerners reached the city. From our windows we watched the fighting, and saw the northerners retreating. We continu- ally heard bullets whizzing through the air, sometimes landing on our roofs. Everyone expected peace and quiet after the southerners took possession of the place, but alas, these troops were sent into Yochow with- out any responsible officers, and given permis- Emergency Hospital Staff. Miss Firor, Miss Myers, Dr. Adams, Miss Traub, Mr. Heinrichsohn in Red Cross Uniform, Miss Ammerman. Dr. Young, Miss Ciertriule Hoy and Dr, lao. Faced the Terrors of War. 27 sion to do as they pleased here. They claimed that they had heard rumors of Yochow’s dis- loyalty to the south, and that therefore the city must be punished. So these troops had barely arrived before they began looting, as well as searching out and killing any northern soldiers who might be remaining in hiding here. While I was at supper, a nurse came run- ning to tell me that (he soldiers had forced ibeir way into the woman’s hospital One of the day school teachers happened to be there at the time visiting his wife, who had been confined in the hospital. When he told them what place it was, they left. About an hour later, I went over to close up the place as securely as I could for the night, and while I was there the soldiers came a second time. This time they were not so easily put off. So I appeared upon the scene and told them that the place was a woman’s hospital. Upon this they left again. I decided that it would be best for me to sleep in the hospital. As I was nearly dead for sleen I retired early, but sleep was out of the question. Scarcely had 1 closed my eyes when there was a bang upon the door. We remained perfectly quiet, and the unwelcome visitors left. Very soon after this Dr. Yao brought in a woman already in labor. Before this babv vyas born, another woman in a similar condi- tion was brought in. Baby No. 1 was born at 11.45 P. M., and Baby No. 2 was ushered into the world at 3.15 A. M. This is the first time we have had two babies born in one night. While these two children were being brought into the world, the soul of another patient — a girl who had been shot in the chest by a stray bullet the morning before — passed into the beyond. During all of this night fire was also raging, and again the patients were clothed, ready to he moved at a moment’s notice. 'The fire was finally extinguished, but not until after the Wounded Soldiers on Stretchers (carried by Southern Soldiers) pausing before Registration Office of Red Cross Hospitals. Faced the Terrors ef War. 29 entire business portion of the city had been Durned. Fortunately the fire never reached our compound. On Monday, the 28th, the compound of the Roman Catholic Mission was looted, and almost everything that could not be carried away was destroyed. All day Monday we were busy operating. We had not time to be tired or sleepy or even to think of our troubles. When Monday even- ing came most of us feared that our time had come to be visited by these robber sol- diers, and we feared that we would be sitting, homeless, out somewhere on the hills the next morning. But our Heavenly Father willed otherwise. By 11 o’clock P. M. things had quieted down very much, and most of us got some sleep for the first time for several nights. THE PART OF THE HOSPITAL IN WAR. Dr. William F. Adams. T he Medical Department has been having some interesting times during the past two months. The rush began on Jan- uary 26th. The wounded northerners came crowding in, and we were operating until after midnight ; then we had to guard the gate while refugees of all kinds flocked past and tried to obtain entrance to our compound; but we passed them on to the “Ladies’ Aid So- ciety !’’ The shelter for the women and chil- dren was arranged for in a vacant lot belong- ing to the Hospital, where mat sheds were erected in readiness for the expected trouble; and other sheds were put up for the men in a separate part of the compound. We thought w’e had a crowd that time — about three thou> sand — but later on, when the southerners re- treated after having occupied the city, we had practically the whole city crowded into our compound for three days; then we knew what it really was to have "company.” Some esti- mated that there were twenty thousand, some Surgical Ward, Mission Hospital. Operating on a Southern Soldier. Miss Traub, Dr. lao, Dr. Young. Faced the Terrors of War. 31 ten, but any way we were “full up,” and glad when the northerners took possession and things settled so that they could leave. They were afraid to leave, but the Lord helped us out then by sending a big storm, which sent them scurrying for their homes. He had help- ed them by giving us Ipvely weather all the time while the danger lasted, and it is wonder- ful in how many ways He has signally shown His care of us during these strenuous days. VVe have had over thirteen hundred cases in the Hospital during these two months, mostly wounded soldiers, but many civilians wounded, both men and women and children. Three other hospitals were provided for by the Red Cross Society, to accommodate the crowds. Even then we had to put the beds close to- gether and then place the wounded upon straw strewn on the floors. As soon as the first rush was over and the danger of us being looted passed away, we tried to “clean up” and get rid of the loose straw and have proper beds set up; but it has been a tremendous rush all the time. There were some remarkable escapes, and unexpected recoveries ; for example, one man was shot through the back and the bullet came out just below the apex of the heart — the man, perhaps, had his “heart in his mouth,” certainly a good place for it just then; but it must have been well “contracted” to escape the track of that bullet. The abdominal cases were, of course, the worst, but even of th’ese we have had some very notable recoveries; also several interesting recoveries where the bullets passed through the brain. Two men we have, also, who are alive and well, when they are supposed to be dead, having been executed. But in these instances the soldiers did not suc- ceed with their “operation.” while w'e did. One might well be excused if he should “lose his head” when the executioner’s sword fell upon it, but this man kept his and as he rolled down the slope he decided to play his part and so lay still until the soldiers had left. Then he Ward in Confucian Temple — Emergency Hospital for Southern Soldiers. Misses Hoy and Firor as Nurses. Faced the Terrors of War. 33 crawled to a hut, got some chicken feathers and stuffed the great gaping wound at the back of his neck so securely with them that it took several days’ soaking after he finally reached the Hospital to loosen up the mass before suturing his head back into the normal condition. One night we had a batch of 15 mangled soldiers brought in by train, from a railway accident, and we had seven amputations to do before morning. One man had one leg left ; the other one, one hand and the other arm at the shoulder had to be taken off. He lived for a long time, in spite of a very severe attack of malaria, but died suddenly. One man was shot while lying down. The bullet entered above the cheek bone, went down his neck, through the chest, and out by the spine at the lower part of the back. He asked me if he would recover, and said he would go at them again if he did. He made a splendid recovery. We were very fortunate indeed in having Dr. Beam out here to help. Of course it was hard on him and his family to arrive in China and find such trouble already started. We had a boatload of soldiers with loaded rifles pointing them at us and stopping our launch on the way up from the port, when they came out;, and since then it has been coming thick and fast, and Mrs. Beam and the family had to leave, with the other ladies, for Ruling, and were taken down to Hankow on the American gun- boat. They thus escaped the bombardment of the town by the Chinese gunboats when the northerners came back. And now, when there is a lull in the fighting, the terrible pneumonic plague is creeping up the river, from port to port, and may be on us here before longl We were also very fortunate in having Dr. Young come down from Changsha to help us just before the South captured the city. Dr. Young is a Chinese who lived in America and studied there and now has a hospital of his own in Changsha, but came down to help the Red 34 Our Mission in China. Some of the Children who found refuge in the Mat Houses put up in our Mission Compound for their safety. Faced the Terrors of War. 35 Cross here. We are deeply grateful to our Heavenly Father for sending us help “exceed- ing abundant, above what we asked or thought,’” and for all His wonderful mercies, and best of all His Presence with us “all the days." And He who has kept, will keep, and we are safe and happy in His keeping. May He use us all continually to accomplish the purpose He has in view for us. STUDENTS BURYING THE DEAD. Rev. Edwin A. Beck. T he story of the work and experiences in our hospitals would fill pages. In our Mission Hospital there are patients everywhere, even lying about on the floors. The Wen Miao and a por- tion of the Changsha Guild Hall have been converted into emergency hospitals and are being rapidly filled up with patients. Dr. Adams, Dr. Beam and three Chinese doc- tors; Misses Traub and Myers as chief nurses, together with a lot of Chinese nurses; also Misses Ammerman, Hoy and Firor, have been trying to cope with the situation. Wednesday and Thursday squads of the Lakeside Red Cross boys have been out burying the dead who are lying about the streets and the nearer hills. It is noteworthy that our Lakeside Red Cross boys who have been on various battle fields and have been under fire several times, as well as those who spent themselves so freely fighting the fire, have all reported safe, and groups of them are still working as inti- mated above, searching and burying the dead. OUR MISSIONARIES FIRED AT. Mrs. J. W. Owen. W ELL, on and off for many months now, all kinds of rumors have been current and north and south China have been in a ferment and the climax came to Changsha, Ichang and Railway Terminal at Lakeside. Faced the Terrors of IVar. 37 Yochow. The southerners captured our cit> about a month ago, and the northerners before leaving it looted and set fire to the city and what was left the southerners finished. Oh it was terrible! Yochow is practically wipecf out. Mr. Owen trained a squad of students for Red Cross work and he and the squads and others in the city tried to quell the fire but were told they would be shot if they tried any such thing. They went on in spite of the bul- lets and turned the fire from our building and they stand as a monument of God’s sav- ing grace. Here in Lakeside William Reimert and I were fired on by a retreating northerner and had a narrow escape. Dr. Hoy went to town to see Gertrude and had bullets whizzing all around him. My husband was out at Lin- chang with the squad previous to the capture of Yochow and for two hours they were under fire. They respect no flag on any boat. Steam- ers have been fired and lives lost. ALL OUR WOMEN AND CHILDREN FLED. Miss Marion P. Firor. T he past week the southerners con- tinued to lose, the northerners kept coming nearer and nearer. Every day wounded southerners were brought in, some put in the Military Hospitals, some in the Red Cross and our own foreign hospital stacked full. On Saturday about midnight came a telegram from the Custom’s Port of Yochow informing us that an American gunboat had arrived to take “women and children.” We took it for granted that it referred to the women with children. Early Sunday morning two of our men went down to interview the captain, and brought back the word that all were requested to go. We girls, nurses and teachers, refused to go unless ordered out and signed a paper ab- solving him from all responsibility for our safety. The reply to this did not come till seven o’clock and said that we must come. A Portion of the Ruins of the Business District, Yochow. Faced the Terrors of War. 39 So we stayed up all night and packed. Each one was allowed a small trunk and suit case. The captain later explained his position, and we can clearly see his point of view, but it was so hard to leave. We left in the dark at 5 A. M., coolies carrying lanterns and baggage, and when we reached the shore the row boats had to be bailed out; just as soon as we were on the gunboat it sailed a little after 6.30. So here we are in the U. S. Gunboat “Mon- ocacy” on the way to Hankow where we take a steamer for Kiukiang to go to Hankow. We have passed many boat loads of northern soldiers going southward, and at one time saw a whole company marching single file along the river bank. On March 20th, word came that the southerners had been defeated at Yochow and had burned everything that was left of the city as they retreated; also, that the foreigners were safe. We take for granted that our compound was not burned. THE PRESENT SITUATION IS THREATENING. Rev. William A. Reimert. M r. beck and other members of the Mission will have informed you about the Yochow situation. Everything is quiet for the present. The northern army is determined to take Yochow and Changsha again ; in which case the women and children, at least, will have to leave, because neither life nor property will be safe if the southern army will have to retreat. In fact the present situation is so threatening that we are contemplating sending them away immediately. The trouble is where to send them. During the present turmoil, Shanghai seems the only safe place, but Shanghai at present is infested with a serious epidemic of small pox and scarlet fever, and would be a very unsafe place for children. We will have a meeting to-day to decide what is to be done. 40 Our Mission in China. Ruins of Our Main Street Chapel, Yochow. Faced the Terrors of I'l^ar. 41 MADE THEIR ESCAPE AMID PAINFUL DIFFICULTIES. Mrs. William A. Betmert. Y OU can be thankful that you are out of all the exciting times we are hav- ing here at Yochow. The northern soldiers are expected back again, and they are determined to take the city, so the Consul advised women and children to leave. I do not like to leave and 1 do not think I would if it were not for Marguerite. We went to the port last Satur- day and expected to take a Japanese steamer which was expected to leave early Sunday morning. It never got in till 8 o’clock Sun- day evening, and then they were so full of pas- sengers that they refused to take us so we had to stay another night and come back in the morning. I must tell you about our trip to the port on Saturday. We left Lakeside, at noon on a big red boat. We stopped in town for the rest of the folks, but they were not ready to go with us, only their baggage, just a short distance out from Yochow the boat struck a rock, but no one seemed to think much of it till we noticed the water in the part where the beds are and found the bot- tom was full of water and the things that were under the beds were all wet. The water ran out of the boxes and trunks when they pulled them out. We were just sick over it. .“MI the boats going up and down the river are fired on so we do not know what one will get into yet, but our trust is in Him who careth for His own. PACKED IN THE BOAT LIKE SARDINES. Mrs. Edwin A. Beck. T he Commissioner of Customs very kindly took us in and we waited till Tuesday, when a Japanese steamer came into port convoyed by a good- sized gunboat. Talk about being packed in e s s o s o •rt *« -Hi o T3 e a CJ) “= ■C.. D b- S) S vw i ° I* •« ^ Q *£ s ^ ‘S O ^ :2: from the fleeing Northerners. Faced the Terr ore of IV ar. 43 like sardines. That boat was packed bet- ter than a sardine tin. We could hardly get aboard and had great difficulty getting our baggage on board. The first class saloon was filled and five Japanese and two Qiinese fiad no cabins, so the Becks shared the saloon with them. We spread our beds on the settees and the children slept, but between the cigarette smoke and fear of rolling off on the floor I did not sleep any. Our dear old Chinese nurse sat by the side of the twins all night and kept them in bed. The boat did not leave till daylight, as the most dangerous place was just three hours below the port. GETTING BACK TO YOCHOW CITY. T hat our missionaries in China are no slackers is seen from the way they have faced dangers to get back to the work. Dr. Adams and Mr. Beck made their return from Ruling amid the burst of shells over the fighting armies. They arrived at Yochow City just in time to see the Hunan portion of the southern army on its way back to Changsha after its defeat in the region of Lin Hsiang, where we have an out station and a day school. This was the end of the with- drawal of southern troops from that region, the general blew up his headquarters and got away, turning over stores of rice, etc., to Mr. Heinridisohn for Red Cross work. The re- treat had put the people of the city into a panic, they fled for refuge, ten thousand of them, to our compound where they found shelter and food. Mr. Beck writes, in their trepidation, mem- bers of families got separated and lost. One young mother came here hunting for her eight months’ old baby girl. A baby boy of about that age was picked up along the railroad and carried to the Mission compound in Yochow. A foster mother was found for it, while proc- lamations were put out for the recovery of the mother. It was a common sight to see Lakeside from the East — showing Recitation Hall and Dining Room — Gymnasium, destroyed by fire (right), House occupied by Dr. Hoy’s family and Mr. Beck’s family (left). Gate House and M'otnen’s Chapel (forefront) . Faced the Terrors of War. 45 mothers dragging children by the hand; fath- ers carrying pole and baskets, — a baby in one basket, and rice in the other ; chasing the fam- ily ox with the family bedding on its back. In a letter from Mr. Reimert he sends the < heerful news that all the ladies are back again in YochoWj. and that quiet reigns in the city. Let the voice of thanksgiving be heard in all churches that the Lord has so graciously pre- served the lives of all our missionaries. FIRE DESTROYS BUILDING AT LAKE- SIDE. Dear Dr. Bartholomew : — It is with a sad heart that I write you the fact of the loss by fire of the dining-room and gymnasium of the Lakeside Schools. This un- fortunate event took place last night between 12 and 1.30. The fire started in the basement, where during the last three weeks carpenters have been working on 100 desks to replace those that were lost when Yodiow City was looted and burned. When the fire was dis- covered the flames had made too much headway for us to fight them. We could only address ourselves to the protection of the adjacent buildings. At one time it was feared that the large Recitation Hall and my residence must be lost, too; but we were spared this loss. The building was insured for taels 2500. We may experience some diff.culty in obtaining this, as, no doubt, the men were careless in smoking before they left yesterday. The fire must have been smoldering a long time before the out- William E. Hoy. Note. — Boys are now eating in the passage- ways of the Hoffman Hall Dormitory. It is hoped that we shall get insurance, so that the building can be restored. 46 Our Mission in China. A Challenge to the Church for Help. A fter reading this tragic story of the loss of life and property by the Chinese at Yochow City, and remem- bering that the lives of our missionaries and most of our property was saved, is it not fitting that the Board of Foreign Missions, in the name of our China Mission, should make an appeal to our liberal-minded and warm-hearted members for extra gifts to help pay for the unusual expenses that we will be subject to on account of the rebellion in Hunan? At the recent meeting of the Executive Committee, the Secretary was instructed to prepare this Booklet, and to appeal to our pastors and people for a Yochow Relief Fund of Fifty Thousand Dollars to meet the present emergency in China. In order to rebuild the Main Street Chapel and the Day School in Yochow City, the Dining Hall and Gymnasium at Lakeside, to pay for the care of the wounded soldiers in the hospital, the enforced flight of our missionaries to Ruling, and many other ex- penses, not to speak of the alarming loss by exchange, it is certain that the Board will need, at least, an additional Fifty Thousand Dollars during the year 1918. If we fail to provide this fund now it only means to add to the deficit. Surely we can do as well as other denominations, who are avoiding deficits by larger giving. Send your contributions to the Secretary, Rev. Allen R. Bartholomew, Fifteenth and Race streets, Philadelphia. PLEASE USE THIS BLANK. DETACH AT DOTTRn LINES lOrd may bless the work and the workers. 48 Our Mission in China. Our Missionary Staff in China. The work of our missionaries is not one that can be taken up and laid down at their pleasure. They must labor on or else the work will suffer. They cannot take a vacation when they feel like it, nor return to their homes when home- sickness overtakes them. Think of them in their trials. Rejoice with them in their successes. Pray for them at all times. Date of „ . . Arfivol, Matne. Residence. 1900. Rev. William E. Hoy, D. D., and wife, Yochow City 1902. Rev. William A. Reimert and wife, Yochow City 1905. Rev. Paul E. Keller anl wife Changsha 1906. Rev. J. Frank Bucher and wife Shenchowfu 1906. Prof. Horace R. Lequear and wife, Yochow City 1906. Rev. Edwin A. Beck and wife. .. .Yochow City 1908. Miss Alice E. Traub Yochow City 1908 Rev. F. Karl Heinrichsohn and wife, Yochow City 1908. Drt William F. Adams and wife. . .Yochow City 1910. Miss Rebecca N. Messimer Shenchowfu 1911. Rev. Ward Hartman and wife Shenchowfu 1913. Dr. Lewis R. Thompson and wife. . Shenchowfu 1913. Miss Gertrude B. Hoy Yochow City 1914. Miss Helen B. Ammerman Yochow City 1914. Miss Mary Edna Meyers Yochow City 1914. Miss Elizabeth J. Miller Shenchowfu 1914. Prof. Karl H. Beck and wife Shenchowfu 1916. Miss Marion P. Firor Yochow City 1916. Rev. J. W. Owen and wife Shenchowfu 1917. Miss Esther J. Sellemeyer Shenchowfu 1917. Miss Minerva Stout Weil Shenchowfu 1917. Mr. George Bachman Yochow City 1917. Dr. J. Albert Beam and wife Yochow City