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Show EXTRACTS FROM B I S H O P LAMBUTHVS R E P O R T OF H IS R E C E N T INVESTIGATIONS IN T H E FAMINE D I S T R I C TS OF CHINA "The area affected consists of about 100,000 square miles, where some 15,000,- 000 people are facing starvation. "I found just six weeks ago that what they had would not last more than three or four weeks. "Nearly all the animals have been sold. In one village eighty were in use prior to the famine; now only twenty are left and they were about to be sold or slaughtered. "As to the food supply. This comes largely from Manchuria. These North China people are not accustomed to the use of rice. They use koaling or millet. Both are cheaper than rice. Beans are being shipped to Chefu on the coast of Shantung. "One thousand refugees died in a single night in Kalgan from cold. They had pawned or sold their clothing. A cold spell came on and men, women and children perished. "I went to Tiensin. I couldn't sleep on account of the groans of the men and women who were lying on the stone pavements of the city. (There are now few young children left.) 'The Red Cross is doing a good work, but it is limited for funds. About $500,000 in gold has been sent to it from America, and in addition some from Manila and other points, in local currency amounting to nearly $1,000,000 in silver. (The amount is larger at this date, March I) "I asked Dr. Piell, of the Tientsin famine district, 'How much money have you received and how many can you take care of?' 'All told we have room for 12,000 people,' was the reply. 'What will become of the remaining 82,000 of your 100,000,' I asked. He replied, 'They will perish.' " ' W h a t policy have you adopted?' 'The policy we have adopted is the same as that of the Red Cross, namely, the taking care of a certain number of villages and carrying them through the year. That is all we can do.' 'What about the rest?' 'They will die. As there is no use to keep them alivle for two months and then let them starve. We have selected a few villages, and we are endeavoring to carry those people through until the end of the season.' "I asked (a Chinese mother), 'Where are the children,* 'Gone,' was the reply. 'Given them away?' I asked. 'We have no one to give them to. Who would buy them? ' Children are being sold in Shanghai for a dollar a piece. "These are no exaggerated statements. i have seen the tragedy and looked it right in the eye." W. R. LAMBUTH. |