Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1921-05-13
PLAGUE IS PERIL TO
CHINA'S GRANARIES
8ubonic Sweeps Southwark In
ManChuria; Dead Donkey
Brings 81 as Food
'"SPEED UP FUNDS" IS PLEA

'"SPEED UP FUNDS" IS PLEI
In recent report from Charles r
Crane. 4. 5. Minister to China, to tn,
American Committee of the Chin,
Famine Fund, 1t is stated, that a Blu
bonic ''ngue which few months ag,
appca.,. Il Northern Manchuria, ha'
crept southwark until IL now threat
ems the main grain supply of China
which Increases the burdens of thi,
woe-besct nation.
As far back as 1917, China's trou
blcs began to multiply when the Vel
low River, always known as "China's
Sorrow overllowed its banks ant
swept the great provinces of Shantun,
and Shansi. The crops were destroy
ed aud millions of persons made home
less. Floods are not unusual in nortl
China but then came the great drJntl
and not until last summer did the rail-
clouds come between the dry browi
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,OOO,OOO famish
ed people as the actors.
1t seemed that at last their trouble,
had ended when the green things be
gan to peep above the ground last sum
mer. Then came that old enemy OF
nankind-locusts in drOves, in cloud,
so thick they obscured the light of SUI
descended as from nowhere, and al
most over night the earth was stripped
of every living growing thing. Tn,
stage once more was 4 parched, brown
dry desert; but many of the actor
had passed into the land of their an
cestOrs.
In some recent information received
an instance is reclted describing the
terrible destitution of the famine
land-a donkey had died N q
distant province from lack Of food. IT.
owner carted it into the interior OF
The famine area where eager bidders
inally ran the price up to 81 to use it,
for food
Plague Threatens Granaries.
And now the plague threatens Chi
la's granaries. Unless the plague cal
'e checked. Mr.. Crane asserts, tn,
;ranary relied on for the relief Of mil
ions of famine victims In North China
Till be cut off.
1.-THE situation is rendered more Sc
rious," writes Mr.. Crane, "by the fact
hat Manchuria is literally crowded
With foreign exiles." There are no
ever than 100000 Russians who fled
before L BOlshevik executioners
10000 Koreans, and thousands of Chi.
iese who formerly lived in Siberia, bur
Who have been driven into Manchuria
" the Red Armies.
Concerted efforts are being made
n cities and towns along the Chinese
eastern Railway to combat the plague,
hospitals being established and the
'ictims isolated. Efforts also are un-
Ter way to fight the source of the dis
'ase-the rats that carry the germ.
of persons already have
lied, and have been given hasty burial.
Spells Doom For Millions.
IF the grain supply of Manchuria
S cut Off. the famine victims in Shan.
ung, Chilli, HOnan, Shansi and Shens
will be doomed. Manchurla represen-
atives of the American Red Cross, the
'hinese Red Cross and the Y. NJ. G. A.
ave Informed the Picking authorities
f the danger and urged that grain
uying, and shipments be FASTENED"
In the famine area there are approy.
nately 4O,OOOOOO persons subsisting |
II dry leaves, bark and roots, and only |
through the speed of funds to obtain
his grain before 1t is cut off by the |
lague can these people be saved from
cath by starvation.
The raising of funds now, az the
me when all efforts must be speedily
ut behind the work, is possible only
trough organizations in local commu.
tiles. The Rev. DR.. +. Y. Mullins
hartman in Kentucky for the China
anime Fund, issued a call TO persons
each community in Kentucky To get
'gether ut once AMI form local or
inizatiOn for the solicitation of funds
n these starving people before IL Is
10 late to save Them Through the
hina Famine Fund money collected In
merica is distributed TO every organ.
alton In the famine district doing re.
ef work. The task is too big for one
'ganlzatiOn, the American Red Cross
ports. The Red Cross already has
'propriated $l,OOO,O0O and has large
rec of workers in the field ut is a
lmanitarian CALL says DIR. Mullins
lie need Is grea' and the time ele.
ent is an important factor Wher
er Committees have not been formed
thin the confines of this State, sym
thetic friends are urged to form their
IN committee and ask the headquar-
rs at Room 8. Board OF Trade Build
9. Louisville. for further informs.
IN. 1t viii be gladly furnished.