The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-05-20
PLAGUE IS PERIL TO
CH|NA'S GRANAR|ES
Bubonic Sweeps Southwark In
Manchuria; Dead Donkey
Brings 81 as Food
"SPEED UP FUNDS" IS PLEA

In a recent report from Charles R.
Crane, q. s. Minister to China, to the
American Committee Of the China
Famine Fund, 1t Ia stated, that Blu
bonic plague which few months ago
appeared In Northern Manchuria, has
crept southwark until 1t now threat
ems the main grain supply Of China,
which increases the burdens Of this
woe.beset nation.
As far back as 1917. China's trou-
bles began to multiply when the Vel.
low River, always known as ''Chlna's
Sorrow" overhowed its banks and
swept the great provinces Of Shantung
end Shansi. The crops were destroy
ed and millions Of persons made home
less. Floods are not unusual In north
China, but then came the great drouth
and not until last summer did the rain
clouds come between the dry brown
earth and its tormenter-the sun.
Faced Peril In Silence.
But during these days, months and
even years, when the food was gone,
China did not raise her voice for help.
The world did not know Of the great
tragedy in the Far East enacted on a
parched stage with 45.000,0O0 famish-
ed people as the actors.
1t seemed that at last their troubles
had ended when the green things be-
gan to peep above the ground last sum-
mer. Then came that old enemy of
manklnd-locusts in droves, in clouds
so thick they obscured the light Of sun
descended as from nowhere, and al.
most over night the earth was stripped
Of every living growing thing. The
stage once more was parched, brown
dry desert; but many Of the actors
had passed into the land of their an
| cestors.
In some recent information received
an instance is recited describing the
terrible restitution Of the famine
stricken land-a donkey had died in q
distant province from lack Of food. Its
owner carted It into the interior Of
the famine area where eager bidders
finally ran the price up to 81 to use It!
carcass for food.
Plague Threatens eranarIes.
And now the plague threatens Chi
ra's granaries. Unless the plague car
be checked. Mr.. Crane asserts, tn,
granary relied on for the relief Of mil
lions Of famine victims In North Chin
will be cut of.
"The situation is rendered more Sc
rious," writes Mr.. Crane, "by the fac
that Manchuria Is literally crowded
with foreign exiles." There are n,
fewer than 100000 Russians who fle,
before the Bolshevik executioners
100000 Koreans, and thousands Of Chi
nese who formerly lived in Siberia, Blu
who have been driven into Manchuri
by the Red Armies.
Concerted efforts are being mad
in cities and towns along the Chimes
Eastern Railway to combat the plague
hospitals being established and tn
victims Isolated. Efforts also are ur
der way to fight the source Of the dlt
ease-the rats that carry the germ
Thousands of persons already hav
died, and have been given hasty buria
i SPELLS Doom For Millions.
!, IF the grain supply Of Manchuri
| Is cut of, the famine victims In Shat
tung, Chill, Honan, Shansi and Shen'
will be doomed, Manchuria represer
, tatives Of the American Red Cross, tn
Is Chinese Red Cross and the Y. N. G.
have informed the Picking authoritie
Of the danger and urged that graf
| buying and shipments be fastened"
= In the famine area there are appro.
' imately 100000 persons subsistir
g on dry leaves, bark and roots, and onl
through the speed Of funds to obtai
this grain before 1t Is cut of by Ii
plague can these people be saved fro
!. death by starvation.
:, The raising Of funds now, at Il
t time when all efforts must be speedil
r put behind the work, Is possible on
e through organizations in local comm
i mites. The Rev. DR.. E. Y. Mullin
y Chairman In Kentucky for the Chit
Famine Fund, issued a call to persol
II in each community In Kentucky to g
S together at once and form local o
r ganization for the solicitation Of fun,
q for these starving people before 1t
too late to save them. Through Il
3 China Famine Fund money collected