South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-31
BY DILLON J. PATTERSON.


China is suffering one Of the
greatest fauiines in the history OF
the world this year. Five provinces,
total area of 10000 square miles
in Northern China. are in the grip
Of restitution. About $4,000 people
are being affected by the terrible
drought. II no efforts are made 70
relieve this appalling distress, 20
Geo. of them will severely suffer.
and several millions Will perish.
Thousands are dying daily"
such was the messt Ee Lum X.
Chu. chairman Of the Chinese Stu
dents Alliance relief committee.
brought 10 South Bend a few days
ago, hoping To secure relief for his
suffering countrymen.
observe the happy industrious
Chinaman who slaves in a laundry
each day and night thousands OF
miles from home and friends. who is
seldom If ever seen in public amuse-
ment places. He lives in crowded
quarters and eats what to Ameri-
cans. seems far from sufficient food
for human sustinenCe. He is usual
~ eXiled from feminine associations
and yet without the encouragement
OF the opposite sex. which 10 most
men seems essential in fighting life s
battle. he wades through his druid
gerry with a song on his lips.
Hard though bis lot may be, our
Oriental friend In the laundry a
well fixed when compared TO his
suffering home folks whose flesh is
drawn tight 10 their bones by want.
Hunger is one Of the worst punish
ments man can undergo. Death by
starvation has pangs that we who
are comfortably fixed. cannot hope
TO visualize. Glance at the Oriental
son in the laundry. How many OF
Us would exchange places with him ?
Then send your thoughts across the
waters Of the Pacific and list 10 the
mOurnful tale that Lum Chu tells
OF his suffering Countrymen.
Country II Crowded.
"One-siXth OF an acre is the av-
eraEe allotment OF land for each
person 10 live on and raise food in
crowded China, said Chu. Scan
conditions in America where by
comparing area and population hE-
ureS we ind that nearly Is acres Of
land per capita is the average ap-
portionment. In spite OF this fact.
think Of the millions of poor people
who barely manage TO exc out a liv-
lng IN the prosperous United States.
What then must be the hardships
OF the crowded Chinese who for four
successive seasons have had their
crops ruined by thoughts"
Parts OF China are practically
isolated by the absence Of railroads
or suitable means OF transportation.
and consequently have 20 depend
chiefly on their own resources for
food and the other necessities Of life.
With less than one eighth OF the
normal crop yield this year and hav-
ing been the victims Of falling crops
for three previous years. think what
misery has been inflicted on these
communities.
Three successive failures Of the
cCUntry's crops has shattered the
last hope Of the peasants in these
outlying districts for sufficien: food.
and a deep realization Of their dcs-
perate position has swept over TIL
Chinese with startling sudderness.
Whole communities are fooGleS
having exhausted their supply of
grain. and people are eating the bark
Of trees. People are wandering aim
lessiy about 20 be GeCimated by
hunger and cholera Roads are
swarmed with melancholy streams
OF hunger pinched humanity and
are In some places sprinkled with
CorpSes.
Cities In turn. have depended On
the rural communities for their foOd
supplies and are now dazed BY the
announcement that no grain is
forthcoming Horse and dog mea;
has come 20 be a common article %
food in Chinese cities OF late. Not
intimating for a moment that my
people are inhuman enough 10 eat
their young but infants arc being
sold by parents too poor 20 support
I them. IN hopes that they themseI Ives
may keep from starvationS door
with the food 20 BE- purchased with