Page 35 - GFA – A Different Drumbeat
P. 35
GFA – A Different Drumbeat 35
would be best to send a man to the Moslem district of Hanchow to find out, as far as
possible the exact attitude of the Moslems to the War and also to try and determine
what enemy propaganda, if any, is being carried on among them.
0ur man left here yesterday a.m. and I should be receiving first reports from him by
the end of next week. He is a very suitable man as he knows a large number of
Moslems in most of their centres in the province. He is a Chinese doctor of no mean
repute and as he carries his signboard with him his going and coming should excite
no suspicion. It you would care for him to visit the other Moslem centres in the
province please let me know as soon as possible, then I will retain his services. 0ur
present arrangement is for one month. I pay him $30 per month and travelling
expenses. If you would care to retain him if you will kindly drop me a wire, I shall be
able to make further arrangements with him directly he returns. I will write you further
after receiving his first reports. Of course he is sworn to secrecy.
Yours faithfully.
So for most of the Great War, GFA was playing a unique role in the service of his country,
and was able to combine this with his work as a missionary of the China Inland Mission. In
fact as a missionary, he would have been less likely to arouse the suspicions of enemy
agents. This double role was unprecedented at the time. He was listening to a different
drumbeat.
In the last few months of the war, he wrote to Miles Simpson:
Since 1915 I have been endeavouring to serve my country in some small measure
by keeping them informed of the movement of enemy subjects and their activities in
Kansuh. I have also undertaken a good deal of war propaganda work in co-operation
with the Official Committee in Shanghai. Our efforts have been successful and this
work will possibly be of even greater importance in the future. The propaganda work
among the Moslims in Kansuh will have to be undertaken more thoroughly now that
there are Russian subjects, or Central Asians who are in sympathy with the Russian
cessation of hostilities with Germany in Kansuh who are ready to aid German
propaganda among the Moslems.
In the same letter GFA asked about the possibility of travelling back to England while the
war was still raging, or whether there might be a more urgent task that he might perform for
the war effort,
My leave is now due and I shall be at liberty to leave here in September next. Since
the outbreak of the War, I have tried many times to get home to offer my services to
the Government. Family responsibilities and financial questions have prevented me.
I understand that if I go to the coast this autumn that the restrictions regarding
women and children travelling in the war zone will not allow of our proceeding to
England.
would be best to send a man to the Moslem district of Hanchow to find out, as far as
possible the exact attitude of the Moslems to the War and also to try and determine
what enemy propaganda, if any, is being carried on among them.
0ur man left here yesterday a.m. and I should be receiving first reports from him by
the end of next week. He is a very suitable man as he knows a large number of
Moslems in most of their centres in the province. He is a Chinese doctor of no mean
repute and as he carries his signboard with him his going and coming should excite
no suspicion. It you would care for him to visit the other Moslem centres in the
province please let me know as soon as possible, then I will retain his services. 0ur
present arrangement is for one month. I pay him $30 per month and travelling
expenses. If you would care to retain him if you will kindly drop me a wire, I shall be
able to make further arrangements with him directly he returns. I will write you further
after receiving his first reports. Of course he is sworn to secrecy.
Yours faithfully.
So for most of the Great War, GFA was playing a unique role in the service of his country,
and was able to combine this with his work as a missionary of the China Inland Mission. In
fact as a missionary, he would have been less likely to arouse the suspicions of enemy
agents. This double role was unprecedented at the time. He was listening to a different
drumbeat.
In the last few months of the war, he wrote to Miles Simpson:
Since 1915 I have been endeavouring to serve my country in some small measure
by keeping them informed of the movement of enemy subjects and their activities in
Kansuh. I have also undertaken a good deal of war propaganda work in co-operation
with the Official Committee in Shanghai. Our efforts have been successful and this
work will possibly be of even greater importance in the future. The propaganda work
among the Moslims in Kansuh will have to be undertaken more thoroughly now that
there are Russian subjects, or Central Asians who are in sympathy with the Russian
cessation of hostilities with Germany in Kansuh who are ready to aid German
propaganda among the Moslems.
In the same letter GFA asked about the possibility of travelling back to England while the
war was still raging, or whether there might be a more urgent task that he might perform for
the war effort,
My leave is now due and I shall be at liberty to leave here in September next. Since
the outbreak of the War, I have tried many times to get home to offer my services to
the Government. Family responsibilities and financial questions have prevented me.
I understand that if I go to the coast this autumn that the restrictions regarding
women and children travelling in the war zone will not allow of our proceeding to
England.
