THROUGH JAPANESE BARBED WIRE

Of all the escape-from-Honkong stories, I liked this best. There is far more of unusual experience here, and her calm courage in face of them is more than remarkable. Owen Friestwood, an English woman, has lived in Hongkong since 1919, during the stage, she drove on auxiliary transport and nursed at the hospital. After the surrender, she planned one escape in a junk which fell through because the promised junk failed to materialize. She was taken to Stanley prison, and she and Anthony Bathuret, a former police superintendent, planned to escape together, and were the first to get through. They hid out in deserted, looted houses; finally located a and, aided by junkman, robbers and guerillas, got into the interior. At this point, Bathurst decided to let her go on alone, while he joined the guerillas. After a long journey, sided by friendly Chinese all along, she reached Chungking and gave her report to Chiang Kai Shek and the embassies on the conditions at Stanley. From the Flying Tigers to the Soong sisters, she was given a rousing reception.