The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-02-24
MILLIONS Want
BREAD IN China
CONDITIONS IN FAMINE DIS
TRIcT GROWING WORSE AND
APPEAL FOR FUNDS is
BEING MADE.

NliShlnSloil, ~ u, fcD. 14.--ttccenl
advices from China indicate that con-
ditions in the famine district are as
bad as have been rumored and are
growing worse as days go by. Two
and half million Chinese will die for
the want of bread il assistance is not
rendered Immediately. This number
comprises nearly the entire popula-
tion of the northern part of the prov
inces OF Kiang-Su and Anhui.
The famine i'm China is the direct
result of the great floods which inun-
dated the provinces mentioned last
summer, running the crops. Conse-
quently there was no harvest and the
supply OF food on hand was not suf-
ficient To sustain the people OF these
sections until the next harvest. In
there win not be a next harvest, as
the Chinese will eat the seed instead
Of planting IL. During the first days
of the famine mothers endeavored TO
sell their babies TO provide food for
themselves and save the children from
SNtii NdAipils ANfW ivy hit liNlHk W
give the children away in the hope
that those to whom the babies are
given will be able to feed thom. Along
the banks of the Grand Canal the VIC
Tins of this terrible calamity are liv-
ing i'm mud and water, with only
shacks Of mating over their heads,
hoping against hope that they may
exist until boats bearing the staff of
life come up the canal to relieve them.
Writing from Hwai Yuan, via Nan
king, r. c. Lobenstine. of the Amer
lean Presbyterian mission, describing
the conditions which exist i'm the
country Immediately about Hwai Yu-
an, says:
"The magistry of Hwai Yuan has
an estimated population of 100000
persons. The number of famine suf-
fercrs-those who must be relieved or
die-in this magistry alone. amounts
to. approximately. 200O00--70 per cent
of the entire population. Last year
the flood was the worst here i'm many
years. and the crops were poor. The
wheat suffered from drought and only
one third was saved. This year about
half of the wheat was harvested, but
in the region north of Hwai two tor
nadocs and then the food carried away
practically everything.
"The need here is great and the
condition OF the poor is as serious as
that in other parts. Reports come in
daily of people dying of starvation.
The poor who have children are try
ing to sell them. but even they will
not sell for q pittance. Help is need
ed at once. AS soon as the real cold
and wet weather sets i'm the death
rate will increase greatly.
zone million people are dependent
on outside relief, and these will die OF
starvation il relief is not given and
they are kept in this region. Five
months must be counted on, and
family cannot exist on less than one
cent per head per day, If for that.
1--WE arc eagerly hoping for help
from the Red Cross Society"
This statement only gives an idea of
the conditions in one portion of the
great famine district.
President Taft, as president of the
American Red Cross, has sent out
an urgent appeal to our people to aid
China, which is suffering from these
dual calamities. Contributions OF
money can be sent to the American
Red Cross, washington, d. c.
II the people of America desire To
help these sufferers in China they
must act Immediately. The Red Cross
makes all remittances to China by ca
Sle. through the state department
thus insuring safe passage of funds
from the giver to the beneficiary ana
the speedy application of such funds
where they will do the post good