From Kaifeng, a letter under the same date with reference to the joy the people felt at being free from the then menace of war, by the recent retreat eastward of the Ankuochun. The joy was soon turned to mourning, however, for planes from the north hummed over the city for several days, dropping bombs on the city, the Bringing death to many therein.
Since thole several letters were written, the Ankuochun, have had to retreat from Eastern Honan, under the pressure of the Nationalist drive [from the south. This has occasioned another attack of some kind on Kueiteh, city, and so the sorely-tried population have been through their fourth siege since the middle of October.
'A letter received some weeks ago from the southeastern portion of the province said that there would be the very severest distress, all through that part, before the winter wag over, as the whole'country was stripped of all supplies, and that without any remuneration that would make possible the purchase of other supplies, when the troops wore recalled from the country. The state of Southern Shantung at the present time perhaps will give some idea of what may be going on in Honan. It is presumed, from the quick summary of reports from sone 60 counties in Shantung, and South Chili, that close on four million of the pes will die of starvation if relief i soon forthcoming. In this city of Tsinan, there are not less 20,000" refugees now receiving. meagre grants from charity.
The Dark Province Honan may not be as hati as this, as there were fairly respectable crops on the whole in the province,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.