Not only for brigandage but for famine is 1922 infamous.
The heavy rains and floods of the previous autumn had left large parts of the country, notably in Chekiang and Kiangsu, absolutely waterlogged. But in Hunan the same effect was achieved by drought. Early in February the China International Famine Relief Commission in Peking published the results of careful investigation showing that eight provinces—Kiangsu, Anhui, Shantung, Hunan, Chekiang, hupeh, Honan and Shensi—were visited by famine; in which thera were 128 hsiens very heavily affected,, 135 heavily affected and an estimated total of 15} million people destitute. Kueichow must be added to the above list of victims. The summer mitigated but did not redress the balance, of evil, which remained terribly heavy at the close of the year.
On August 2 an appalling typhoon, accompanied by a huge tidal wave, struck Swatow. The damage was colossal and the loss of life (including surrounding districts). must without exaggeration have run into tens of thousands. Appeals for help went out to the world and were nobly responded to, Hongkong being especially generous. From this time on for ~about six weeks typhoons were unusually frequent and severe. Taichow was wrecked on August 11; widespread destruction done
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.