New-York tribune., 1920-10-17
Thirty Million
Chinese Hunger
As Crops Fail
Famine in Three Provinces
and a Part of a Fourth
Threatens to Establish
New Record for Misery
Children Are Given Away
Lack of Railway Facilities
Prevents Districts Rich in
Food from Aiding Starving
Bv Morris r. Werner

SHANGHAI. Oct, II. - The Third
Berscman Of the Apocalypse is riding
~onrb shod ov-r North China, sowing
s.aryation among 30,o00OO0 people.
Famine in three provinces of China and
,art of q fourth promises 20 make
,hc last haif Of this year the most
miserable one that China has endured
:, centuries. The year 1920 will not
sand ou. in world history as year
q prosperity but it will he rcmem-
hered long in China as a year of civil
var, business depression and, finally,
famine.
Shanghai fsst knew Shat North
China was starving when the Rev John
Cr.fH,h. OF the Canadian Presbyterian
Mission. stationed at Changtcho, in the
Province of Honan, wrote month
,co to the editor Of the North China
Daily News:
In this cradle of Chinese civiliza-
ton we arc not strong on anniver-
saries. But day marks a new one
sso to-day we had our last rain. Al.
4hc splatters OF il which have fallen
in the Inst twelve months aggrcg ate
total Of less than three inches. And
row for two weeks we have stood
knowing the starting fact that bare,
eaunt famine stares millions Of reo-
pc in the face
Last spring the wheat and barley
except in a few cases of irrigated
land) Just dried up and disappeared.
But the ever hopeful people were not
oyermuch discouraged. This is a coun-
t,y Of TWO crops each season, and good
rams in June or even July assure an
autumn crop OF miller, sorghum
maize and beans. Alas, the periodic
,ains, for which we always look in
tne first time within living memory.
Last Hope Disappears
"The last fading hone was that at
last crop Of quick maturing buck
vhea. might be secured after a late
ram. But no rain has come ana that
hope is now entirely gone. The re-
suit is ;ha; a realization of their des-
pela:e position has swept over the
people with startling suddenncss. Al
ready fodder for their animals has
gwen ont in many places. and donkeys
COWS. mules. etc, arc being offered FOR
onc-tcn,h Of their normal value. TO
drive them for 100 or 200 mics to tho
solA. Of tho Yellow River results in
less than onc-1.fth OF their value sc-
ing secured az the markets there are
glu.tcd with thousands OF animals be
IN. driven In from every northern
road.
But worse than inability to re-
tain their animals is the fact that
whole communities viltna,ly are food
less, ksying exhausted al their grain
in The long months since the las. ctoF
was gathered Thousands are 1ce,nl:
westward toward Shansi Province,
which reports credit wi,h The prospect
Of ciop. Every road sws-ms with
Tie melancholy streams Of hunger
pirche humanity
Tho pcA;ns. rankow RaEway IS
ecncrou-.y Glowing refugees 10 trovci
free OH ali southbnund trains to South
Honan aid Hurch, ana these a:o
crowded chockanlock with families
having many lite children or old per
sons wAo cannot face thc trek over
mountain roads 70 Shansi and Shensi.
Brigaadage Widespread
But some Of the authorities along
or western boldcrs are not willing that
thcil regions should be ovcrrun with
refugees from hcIc. ard recently SOL
dicrs wcic set 10 ~ 70 h";1 the noun
tam passes agai:.st the oncon:ng hordcs
The no, uLna,ursi result WAS tint the
starving refugees, tcmpotArily blocked
foodeG hlca upon tn" villages on this
SIDE Of the mountains and looted right
tld let TO satisfy Their hunger.
Indeed. lootins and hrigandaec o:c
coming right to our doors TIE qvarrc.s
o. the mill artists in the north have
drawn away the troops usually So
toned here and in surrounding town
with the result that dcsl Arate and law.
less men are terrorizinG the country.
How severe the crisis coming upon
Us is gong 10 be one cannot ye say
What Is certain IS, that Eo"c 'har
10000 square. niles Of territory an
100000 people are involved, and
even Il hUAtltedS of thousands arc aUl.
10 liec Il VIII not MAKE very perccOt.
Die difference n region 20 'cnscls
populated. The AJ.k OF the pcoIle must
perlorcc, rclNain and lace the 'nsvitab.: ::
And what that Inevitable Will mean As
winter falls upon Isople already sub
slstlng upon roots ami leaves ano ehaff
one docs no. like to tnnk"
Thirty Million Affected
Since this report o: conditions in part
OF the Province of Nonan more tonr
ere month ago. just how severe til,
srlsis w!ll be has been clearly indicated
nty worse reports Reuters, It'd. which
IS usually unemotiorQl N the news y
SENDS ou', has reported tho Il g. famir,
eNards into the Provinces of Shantung
thihh, Shensi and Honan, and that
yolvcd.
Ire repor.s OF American nli$s.onario.
s,auoned IN The afflicted areas lndicat.
.hat IN, famine area comprises more
'l"h iUoVOn square miles Ii Is csti
mated roughly that this bet contain.
pe'"cen 30,O0O,OO0 and $4,000 pco
inc harves. which must feed all tines,
peopic IS less than 8 per cent Of th'
to''nai harvest in yield, because to'
;.n'f,een months there has been no rail-
s-ais a. az tnls vast area. Four crops have
i"Hso, and Il is estimated :hat rice will
y. 9zo a plcul, which is equal to 49, l.;
ccII""os When rice WAS SIP a plcu il
s;"ahehai, there was danger Of starva
nss ,.o" among 100000 people hete, and re
80 measures were necessary upon t.,
@ s~i' VI the local government a..l larg,
,,so..po'"tlons, although the Chinese pspu
.aupA o. Shanghai and the surroGndla =,
ia Is wealthy in comparison wlti
uloSe people who hive IN Shantung ant
OsheF northern proslIccS