Chapter IV

Excerpts from the writings of Mme Jacqueline Dubois
- Translated by Gay Talbot-Stratford

I met General Arthur Worton and his aide, Walter Curley at a dinner given by the British consul. The venue was the Hai Alai hall (Hai Alai is a game which resembles squash played in a three sided court. The players have a basket shaped gauntlet attached to one hand to catch and throw the ball. It is played at high speed. The name is Mexican
Among the guests were ex members of the camp in Weihsien. They were in fine form, unlike the inmates of Bridge House, liberated by the general in Shanghai. That camp was notorious.

General Worton had the stocky build of a boxer with a hoarse voice. He had lived in China and spoke Mandarin well. He also understood the Chinese way of thinking. During dinner he recounted his landing with his companions, fifteen miles from Tientsin. All this with a great deal of humour.

‘While the plane was flying over the airport, we observed the movement of Japanese troops on the ground ‘said Walter Curley. ‘This caused us some anxiety. According to General Worton there was a whole regiment waiting for us on the ground . The General was the first one down the steps. He said in a loud voice what we had all been thinking:” Let us hope that these goddam bastards are here to welcome us and not to fight. Let us also hope that Tientsin will not be another Iwo-Jima”

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