Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-23
DROP DOWN AND Die
Red Cross inspector Tells of
the Chinese Famine.
PEOPLE HAVE LOST HOPE
No Animals to Plow Their Fields
and No Seed to Sow.
NEED OF RELIEF IS URGENT
Money Contributed Will Be Used in
Building bikes to Prevent Fu-
ture Flood and Famine.
NEED OF RELIEF IS URGENT


this condition of affairs has gone on for
SO long that they have lost all desire for
work; they simply want to lie down in
the mud and die
There were people working on either
side of the roadway, coming and going
These were all beggars and all starving.
\ few years ago the majority of them
had been successful farmers, but now
they have absolutely nothing. There was
not a day that I did not pass two or
lying on the roAd. When the people got
tired and gave up they simply dropped
down where they were and died; they
did not so even to the raised track on
the side, but dropped in the road. where
they lay unburied.
Il came across the emaciated BODY of
young boy, five or Nix years old. His
throat had been cut from ear to ear, and
u piece of paper Was pinned on him which
stated that his father and mother had
nothing to give him to eat; and the chill
dren of the village We're standing around
looking at the corpse"
Applies to 5000, 900.
These were Some of the observations of
c. ID. Jameson, the Red Cross engineer,
sent to inspect the famine district In
China and to report on the possibility of
flood prevention in the Hwai valley The
horror of the thing is that it applies to
nearly 100000 people, and unless out
side relief is instantly forthcoming, he
SAYS, untold thousands of these must die
before the scanty new crops that were
planted after the flood of last year can
be ripened and gathered.
Consul General Wilder, at Shanghai.
has seconded Mr. Jameson's appeal in a
letter directed to Miss Boardman of the
Red Cross, in which he declares that bad
as was the situation last year new ele-
ments have entered into 1t to make 1t
worse. and to justify another appeal to
the Red Cross and through it to char
liable Americans. In the first place the
new plan of the relief committee makes
sure that the funds are to be expended
in return for work under the plans of
Mr.. Jameson. and there will be no free
distribution of food except to those in
capacitated for work.
Can Mitigate Flood Damage.
Mr.. Jameson has reported that the pre-
vention of damage by ordinary floods is
possible, and that the building of proper
bikes and the deepening of water courses
would reclaim enormous quantities of
! land and provide work for famine suf
ferers. The building of roads would also
| furnish employment, and every dollar
Three dollars in gold will provide work
for one family and save ii from starvation
for a month. Fifteen dollars will carry
family through until the barley harvest.
Notwithstanding the rebellion, police and
military protection Is assured for suffi-
cient area to work in at present, regard
less of the faction In control. For over
two months in Marking from 400 to 500
men have been employed on useful work
by the relief committee even during the
bombardment Of the city.
A reassuring feature. according to Mr..
Wilder. is that In the future the Chinese
government itself will be in better con-
dition to take care of its own. The revo-
luton in part" he says, traces to the
inability of the old government to grapple
| with famine conditions Whatever form
| the new government may take, the miti-
of the program.
Made Worse by Rebellion.
1.-THE present famine conditions are in
extricably entwined with the rebellion.
| Industry is generally interrupted, shops
closed more or less everywhere; there is
! anarchy to a great degree and much loot
| ing and insecurity of possessions. 1t is
| inevitable that within a few weeks the
conditions will be very dreadful. can
| only say that one can hardly conceive our
people not participating in the relief, pre-
| sumably through the familiar Red Cross
channel and by an appeal to the coun-
try. Perhaps we in China have not been
able to impress on Washington the SUI
preme nature of the extreme seriousness
Of the situation this winter"
The above is the concluding paragraph
of the consul generals appeal for help.
seconded by Mr.. Jameson with a state
ment that from his own knowledge of the
situation the horrible condition Of the
natives is not overdrawn. The Red Cross
has acted Immediately and sent out an
urgent appeal for contributions.