We have received the following further atter for publication Dean Da. Panxer,—Appeals have ome to us from Mukden friends for help 0 repatriate the refugees.
The time has come when the people right, in large numbers, return to their ames, if they had homes to return to; he time has come when they must sow he land, if there is to be any harvest tall. But, alas, as things are now, they no homes to go to, and nothing ith which to till the soil or sow seed.
Their old homes are deserts—not a roof remains in multitudes of cases. Everything representing the comforts and necessities of life has been stripped clean away from them by the war storm. All these weary months they have been dependent on outside charity for shelter, food, and clothing. They have been living in crowded re-foges under sanitary (sic) conditions not conducive to health, and it is desirable on every account that the present condition of things should be put an end to as soon as possible. It is hoped that the Japanese military authorities will be disposed to facilitate the carly repatristion of these people as, apart from every ion, the overcrowding of the city may result in s severe epidemio which would be disastrous. Already typhus and other fevers are raging in Moukden, and in our refuges the death rate is high.
therefore proposed that immediate stops be taken to enable the refugees to return, and make a beginning at solf-support again. To this end we propose to give them seed to sow the fields and a money grant to enable them to set up house again.
With regard to former, what is aimed at is to give them " suffice lent amount of seed grain to ensure a harvest that will provide a sufficient food supply and leave a small margin for seed the following spring. Now in our various refuge we have, say, 14,000 individuals, the majority of them being women and children. They will require, say 20,000 "dan" of millet to keep them in food for surplus for 400 dav, and this amount we propose to sot apart. Of course in addition to this the women and children at least must be kept in life till the harvest comes round.
With regard to houses, it has been suggested thet a grant of Tls. 10 per family would enable them to raise a roof over their heads, Of course it would be the merest hut, but still a shelter, and a home, For our Mukden refugees alone some Tls. 15,000 will be required for this purpose, as there are, at the lowest optimate, 1,500 families absolutely without Homes. "Of course I do not include those looked after by the Tartar General, who probably number three times as many.
For furnishing, cooking utensils, and farming implements, a further sum of Tia. 5 per family has boon suggested. To my mind it is much too small, but, taking it at that, our Mukden refugees alone will therefore require a repatriation grant of Tls. 23,000.
Yesterday I went to Koupangtze to meet the newly-arrived representatives of the Shanghai Society, but their chief being absent, nothing could be decided. We had a conference on the subject, however, and the proposals with their hearty concurrence. Time is proseing, and delay in regard to the seed grain at least is out of the question. I therefore wired to you, and sent a special messenger to Mukden, as neither the postal nor telegraph services aro.at present open to that city. I am hopeful that the Japanese authorities will permit me to go to Liaoyang and Mukden immediately; it would be so much better if matters could be arranged on the spot.
With kind regards, (Signed) Faithfully yours, Newchwang, Srd April.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.