Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1914-12-04

of Europe and matters here are very
acute. While in European overload
| ship, the masses of the people are OF
the Moslem faith, sullen and discon-
| tent.
The one disinterested factor in the
case is TIE presence of the American
missionaries. The religious situation
is acute and calls for the American
presence and for that presence To
manifest itself in all manners of re-
/ lief.
For the remainder of Africa VIC are
from day to day awaiting with batec.
breath, not knowing what calamiticj
are overtaking the lands from the in
vasion of European forces. The whole
situation calls for added provision for
imperative needs.
South America.
South America is almost Frustrated
and sef-support has been suddenly
arrested. South america on the east
and west coasts cliis emphatically for
relief.
India.
india has four factors entering into
war difficulties. First, the govern
ment has begun to withdraw portions
OF the grants made to our schools for
N,
thew hole school system of Methodism
has begun to suffer. Second. the rise
In prices is marked and the tendency
is still upward. Third, the loss i'm eX-
cnange is very cons .!erable. Imme-
diately after the war broke out it ran
as high Is is per cent. Fourth. the
local resources are necessarily cramp-
ed and so large is the volume of our
work in India and so considerable the
factors of locel finance thatt he'd islo-
cation of these finances promises the
utmost confusion unless special relief
reaches them.
Malaysia is more dependent than
many of our foreign fields on local re-
sources, for it has achieved large de-
gree of self-support. Here, too, ex-
change has risen and prices doubled.
The Philippines.
While unrelated to the war in n di-
rect way, the Philippine Islands feel
the effects acutely. There have been
a marked increase of prices with such
a cessation of commercial activity as
is entailing both suffering upon the
people and deep concern upon the mis-
Japan and China.
Japan, engaged in war itself, has
been marked cessation of her bust
ness activities and considerable rise in
prices.
China, both govcrnmentally and
commercially, is almost bankrupt. All
the splendid work of the Methodist
,hurch IN that great republic is cut
>if from these growing local resources
which were being most admirably
gathered in. Here, too, prices have
risen. Exchange is high and relief is
called for.
Mexico.
We regret to report that according
20 the latest information the situa-
ion in Mexico is wore than at any
line since the present revoluntary
disturbances began. The European
lrisis had an evil effect upon the
Mexican situation in two ways. First.
many of the channels of export and
import between Mexico and Europe
have been closed, and in addition, the
TACT of European war has apparently
nades ONE of the MeXicans feel that
he United States would under no cir
take n vigorous attitude
toward the Mexican situation. The
feeling has not entirely
disappeared, and many of the MeXi-,
IAN leaders seem to feel that during
The present European crisis, the Unit |
I'd States can be left out Of the ac-
count as far as Mexico is concerned
Meantime, the country is in great dis
order, hence there is in some quarters
| disposition to treat Americans and
American enterprises with something
If that contempt which comes out of
he feeling that the nation is too much
ore-occupied with European affairs to
)ay careful attention to the COM
)laints OF Americans in Mexico. We
10 not think that this feeling is wide |
spread, but there is enough of it to |
'ause embarrassment in carrying on
my form of enterprise which is |
tnown to be IT, any degree American.
With numerous bands of soldiers in
he country each following different |
eader; with railroads dismantled and
ordinary business concerns idle, the |
general situation is very depressing.
Within the past few months one of |
our preachers narrowly escaped death !
1t the hands of Il firing squad; another
vas imprisoned on false charge of |
his pupils to salute the
american flag; accusations of incen-
iiarism were made against a third;
,wo of our ministers have been rob-
bed of all they possess, and one of |
'ur local preachers has been shot. The |
work Of our church in Mexico has
gone ahead, but it has done so in the
ACE of fearful obstacles.