The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-11-17
CHINESE WAR
ST0ICALLY FOR
SLOW DEATHS
Twenty-Five Million HUI
man Beings Face Ter
rible Conditions

L
PEklNG, Oct. Is. - Cholera IS
adding TO the general distress in
the famiue-striCKen district where
from 25,OOG>UU0 to 3O,OO0,0OO people
are facing death by starvation.
The Associated Press correspond
eut. who recently Travelled through
the heart OF the territory most serl-
ously denuded OF food, found condi.
tons even more desperate than
had been indicated by Information
previously received here,
In the town OF Hwaian where
there were 100 families, 30 persons
had died OF cholera and similar re.
ports are common from various
other districts.
The picture presented TO the eye
of the correspondent was dismal
one. The soil barren as IN mid.
winter. prices soaring, migration
OF those having more money or en-.
Iterprise, the people living on diet
of weeds, chaff, thtstles and leaves;
children, especially little girls, of
fered tor sale at the average price
OF the small Chinese mule; cholera
from undertaking, suicides of in
dividuals In extreme despair, old
women and children cleaning
patches of weeds. men with no work
to do and clusters of refugees liv-
ing in the shelter OF temples in
market towns.
Information obtained by the cor,
respondent indicated that the pres.
ent suffering is only forecast OF
that to come in the course OF eight
or 10 weeks when the real crisis
will arrive. Conditions In the belt
he traVersed in a journey by cart
between two railway lines near
Techow are believed to be typical
Of those generally existing through
out large areas in the provinces OF
Chilli, Shantung, Honan, and Shan
81. He found indescribabIe misery
and stoical facing or starvation by
millions OF people who already had
disposed OF everything salaDle and
saw in the future nothing but
death.
When the frost will have killed
the unconsumed leaves and weeds
there will be literally nothing to
eat for at least half the population,
One out of 10 has already migrated
without money and without desrl-
nation. In the worst spots half the
people are already subsStmg on
the proceeds OF the sale Of furni-
ture and clothing, which means
that those temporarily escaping
starvation will ultimately die from
cold and exposure.
IN the town of Chi Chow, which
Is typical, the magistrate informed
the Correspondent, that out of every
three families two are quite sure
to sturVe before the end OF the year.
barring effective relief from out
side. There are 100000 people in
the administrative district in queS-
ltion.
In Ming Ching two bankers who
were engaged in raising relief
funds said that the crop had been
an absolute failure following two
or three previous and serious
shortages. OF 10000 families, they
estimated that eight out OF ten
were practically without means.
One OF the informants said that
he was the OWNER of the largest
pawhshop in the vicinity.
There are constant streams OF
farmers coming with clothing, fur
niture, implements. anything upon
which to realize few coppers.
They are selling their children
where possible. or leaving them
where there is hope that they may
be fed,'' he said.
Chaff and the residue from cot
ton seed after the oil has been ex'
tro ctad have beCOme valuable be.