Evening star., 1932-03-22
EPIDEMIC TAKING
BIG TOLL IN CHINA
Smallpox and Famine Follow
COnfIict-Lack of Funds
Causes Relief Crisis.

(Copyrieht 1882. by the Associated Press>
SHANGHAI, March 22.-Disease and
famine, two others of the Four Horse
men of the Apocalypse, rode rough
shod over China today in the path of
the havoc of war.
As result of the crowding of mil
lions of refugees during the hostilities
at Shanghai, an epidemic of smallpox
is now sweeping the Orient, according
to DR.. WI Lien-Teh, director of the
Chinese maritime quarantine service.
Sir John Hope-Simpson, British di-
rector of the China Famine Commis-
sion,. said at the same time famine con-
ditions had again reached such pass
in some parts of the country that the
people were eating the bark of trees,
the chaff Of tfrashed grain, and weeds,
in order to ward Of starvation.
Is Deaths in Two Days.
DR.. WI said the smallpox epidemic
was the most widespread, and taking
in many years. Fifteen persons have
died of it in the last two days and the
native quarters are crowded with pa
tients, the number of whom is not
known, he said.
Sir John said desperate measures will
be necessary to carry on the work of the
National Flood Relief Commission in
the face of the crisis in the organiza-
tion's affairs as result of the hostili-
ties.
The income from special Chinese
taxes for the relief fund has been cut
from $750,00 month in gold to $l75,-
600, he said, and the commission Is now
forced to depend almost entirely on the
sale of American wheat for income. A
total of S750,000 must be raised in addi-
ton to this, he said, if the huge flood
relief program Is to be completed.
Special Precautions Ordered.
Reconstruction of the dykes on which
nearly 1000 flood victims are now EN-
ployed must be completed within three
months If repitition Of last years dis
astrous floods is to be averted.
All steamers entering and departing
from Shanghai now are required to take
special precautions against smallpox.
One of its victims in recent days was
E. Koechlin, French consul general,
who died aboard steamer shortly after
leaving here to return to France Tor a
holiday.
Foreigners are particularly susceptible
to the form of smallpox now prevalent
here, DR.. WI said, and as result OF
the warning hundreds of them are
crowding the doctors offices to be vac
cinated.
In Virulent Form
He said the disease was in very
virulent form and that half the cases
thus far had proven fatal. The toll OF
the past week at Hongkong, Saigon
Calcutta, Bombay, Macao and Rangooll
totaled 142 As a measure of protec-
ton, the city of Hongkong has ordered
that all persons arriving there from,
Shanghai undergo vaccination before
,, they are allowed to enter the port.
The Relief Commission recently was
incorporated in Delaware in order to
facilitate large shipments Of American
wheat and -four. which so far have
totaled 350000 tons, with 10000 tons
! purchased from the United States Gov
ernment, is being sold here and the
| funds turned in TO the Relief Commits
sion. The United States Government
is to be repaid over long term from
| the tax income OF 81 ,5O0,OOO raised
by donations and already spent, three
fourths was subscribed by the Chinese
and the rest came from the United
States and Great Britain.
Many Americans, chiefly mission
aries, are assisting in the relief work
in the upper Yangtze Valley The com.
mission recently asked John D. Rocke.
feller for 100000, to be matched by
public subscription.