The Washington herald., 1907-02-16

New York, Feb. 15.-Unless immediate
succor be sent to the Chinese famine SUI
1erers in the district north of the Yangtse
River, the lives Of 100000 starving
Chinese farmers viii be snuffed out with
in few weeks.
A communication to this effect was re-
celved by f. R. Johnston, OF the Christian
Herald, to-day from a prominent civic
society in China which has been solicit
ing aid for the famine sufferers from the
nations Of the world.
Immediate steps viii be taken by char
liable institutions of this city 10 send
relief to the sufferers.
Most Terrible in History.
The famine in North China is the most
terrible in the history Of the world" said
Mr.. Johnston. Not even the famines Of
India can compare with it, II covers an
area Of more than 5000 square miles,
with a population of 100000 II is in
evitable that this whole population viii
be wiped out unless relief be sent a.
once.
Last October and November 1t rained
in this district for forty days without
cessation. Every crop was utterly
ruined. The Chinese Of that section rely
for food entirely upon what they raise
They are mostly small landholders or
tenants.
The whole country was covered with
water, and, as there We're no crops, there
was no seed for new planting In De-
Cember 900 Of the l0.O0000 inhabitants
were destitute and thousands had died.
By February I the whole population was
starving, and the suffering was terrible
Rnvaged by PestiIence.
ITO make matters worse, smallpox and
typhoid fever broke out in the famine
camps and thousands died Of these dis
eases. The cities were surrounded by
thousands of shadow-lille men and wo-
men from the country districts. They
We're almost starved to death, and many
Of them could hardly walk. Death camps
were instituted TO which the dying crawl
ed to breathe their last.
Every possible effort is being made by
the Chinese government % relieve the Suf-
fering. Food is being brought from the
southern cities and from other countries.
The Red Cross society has responded TO
the cry of the famine sufferers. and is
y
"Dr. Louis Klopsch, of the Christian
Herald. has already sent S36.6JJ to the
sufferers, and has promised TO send $J0.000
- month for the next four months One
dollar from an American will save one life
in China for a week. Millions are in the
famine camps now
The National Red Cross Society re-
ceived. at its office in this city yesterday,
a message from the American consul gem
eral al Shanghai. telling OF the horrible
conditions existing in China during the
present famine. The society appeals for
contributions. The Red Cross has already
sent SI5.OC0 and 800 tons of flour to China.
and is preparing TO send 1850 bushels of
seed wheat for spring planting. The con-
sui generals message is, in part. as fol-
lows:
The conditions are almost unspeakable.
] only saw a portion of the camps at
Chinkiang. and at Nankin, and ! was
told that they are infinitely better than
those which line the canal TO and at
TsingkianEpu. Yet the vretchedness, the
misery, the almost appalling horror Of the
camps saw are practically indescribable.
1t must be borne in mind that no rain
Of any consequence has fallen in this part
OF China for many weeks. As a conse-
Quence the camps are situated not adja-
cent TO reasonably dirty and filthy canals
and pools, but beside foul bitches and
stagnant ponds. There is no attempt III
sanitation. and the mat huts are crowded
together and each contains many men.
women, and children. who are clothed in
rags, who are disheveled beyond descrip-
ton. and who are living on a scanty cup
OF rice a day and such roots and other
vegetable substances as can be CLEANED
from a country already swept nearly
bare.
This is the condition of these people
near the prosperous cities of Nankin and
Chinkiang, and they only constitute q
small percentage of the whole, the refu-
gees in the river cities and towns prob
ably numbering altogether 1890. What il
is all like at places within the famine
districts can perhaps be- imagined
The climax of this famine condition
in the essential quautity-that of starva-
ton, or not-will not come for six OF
seven weeks. the time when the real
Chinese wintef of the latitude is on. That
there will be a great loss of life. goes
without saying: the only question now is
How much can il be limited o."
Those desiring to contribute TO the re-
lief fund are requested 10 send their con
tributions to Thomas r. Jones. treasurer
of the District Red Cross Branch. Ma
tional Safe Deposit, Savings, and Trust
Company. Washington. or to the Red
Cross. War Department.