Ata meeting held at H.B.M. Consulate at Chefoo on the 18th December, it was decided that " Comnittee—to be called the "Shantung Famine Relief Committee" should be formed and the following gentle. men were elected to nerve -—De. Nevius, Mr. Eckford, Dr. Henderson, Dr. Douth: waite, Mr. Edgar, and Mx. Bristow (Chairman.)
In pursuance of a resolution possi this meeting a circular was issued for subscriptions in Chefoo, and some have been already collected. The greater part ut this has been (together with the sums sent from Shanghai) forwarded to Mr. Laughlin who with his wife has already proceeded to the suffering districts to commence the work of distribution.
The people are actually starving and in more that one district the wealthier farmers have been officially informed that they may not permit their cattle to eat the blades of wheat in their own fields, as these blades are the only available food for the poorer people.
Altogether the Committee has now at its, disposal something over $2,000, and must confine its relief to such an area as the funds in hand will allow it to deal with effectively.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.