Martyr in China

The noble army of martyrs has a new recruit. Last week the U.S. heard the story of his heroism.

At Yukiang in China's northeastern Kiangsi province, Italian-born Father Humbert Verdini carried on his quiet missionary work, following in the footsteps of other Vincentians since the 18th Century, when the Paris-founded order first entered China.

When the Japs swarmed into Yukiang to take savage reprisal for help given by missioners and laity to Jimmy Doolittle's Tokyo flyers, the able-bodied and most of the missionaries, including Bishop Charles Quinn, eight American priests and five nuns, took to the hills. Father Verdini stayed with the children, the aged and infirm, and waited for the Japs.

When the Japs left, the townsfolk returned. Of Yukiang nothing remained but desolation. In the streets, outside burned and wrecked buildings, lay dead bodies, bearing evidence of frightful tortures. Bishop Quinn looked for Father Verdini. In the rear of the priests' compound he found his sun helmet, a muddied jacket, human bones.

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