hours later, at 2:00 a.m. the next morning the cook woke up Charles to report the whole city 7f was on fire! It was in flames and burned for 3 whole days. Charles sent every kind of vehicle to the heart of the city to help evacuate the German Mission Hospital. The staff and most patients were able to escape most of the inferno, but much of the city was destroyed and many wounded soldiers died. It was one of the most deadly, destructive actions taken int he whole of the Japanese war with China. Supposedly a mis-read telegram indicated that the Japanese were 10 miles off--it was really 90. It was never clear why an organized group spread dry straw and poured kerosene in every quarter of the city and set it ablaze. General Chiang Kai Shek and his executive officers came to see the destruction and investigate. Before his arrival Charles, in organizing a relief team, went to see the governor to ask how he could help. He knew there would be executions of responsible people, and asked the governor if he could pray for him. The governor was most grateful for his support and said yes. The governor was later "dismissed from his position" but "remained in office" in accordance with the Chinese manner of forgiveness. For Governor Chang Gih-chung had been the brave general who defended Shanghai for 3 months at terrible cost when all said it was "impossible". At the beginning of 1939, the Chinese universities in Changsha on the H.B.I. campus moved to west China, the German hospital moved to the Institute buildings along with the German school for blind women. That summer Charles took a plane for a quick vacation in Hong Kong for a few weeks relief from the long, hot, humid summer. In September the Germans declared war on England. In January 1940, Grace was concerned about Charles and made plans to go to Changsha, leaving a senior missionary lady to stay with the three young daughters in Hong Kong. She set off intrepidly with 7 friends to cross Japanese lines and after 3 weeks of wild adventures arrived safely. There was much to do in the house at Changsha and additionally to give a great deal of moral support and joy to the community and comfort a lonely husband.
During this unsettled time, many of the highly educated faculty at H.B.l. were concerned about their future. During prayers one morning a senior faculty member,
17
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs