Although the Yangtze River has begun to recede after reaching record mark of 60 fect, one inch, the floods a8, affecting [Chinese areanin' the Wuhan district reassuring an extremely 'Another' dyke near the Socony Installation hes collapsed and. the railway tracks in the vicinity have been washed away. The low-lying of Hankow on the opposite ide of the. Kinhan railway, which fontil now" has remained "dry, low inundated.
"The breaking of the dyke. this morning resulted in the drowning Jot 30 coolies and the demolition of dwellings. The flood water Jaleo brought destruction to." the fraiway track at three different places, Thousands are homeless because the floods have. spread to the \Jensely. populated and low-lying} ts. Many are facing" star ration. "The spread of the floods Jcaused panic im the Chinese City fovday. "All abeds, huts and! houses were evacuated "and the people rushed for higher levels, leartving what personal effects they could. Temporary sheds twere erected for miles slong" the railway embankment.
Women shrieked as they desert-led their homes and fled with their infants and belongings. Sampans replaced all ricshas and other} forms of vehicles. In an hour latter the dykes burst the Chinese City became a lake. The break Joceurred during daylight hours, jand this factor prevented many! learualties.
The breaking of the last em. bankment flooded the Race Clubj grounds, the Japanese Barracks jand the Jardine Estate, all of which jure now under several feet of water. Foreign houses on the Estate have been evacuated, A survey of the flood situation jin the Chinese territory outside tne Japanese Concession reveal that about 2,000 houses have been submerged. What once were rice fidds are now under a huge lake with only roof tope showing above ithe surface of the water.
Emergency measures are being taken by the authorities, who view! ithe situation with alarm. meeting called by General Ho} Chen-chun, the Chairman of the Hupeh Provincial Government, de-_ cided to organise a Hood—relief ing a loan "of $200,000 from the local' banks for flood relief and Residents in the Concessions were relieved to, see the waters [subside to-day. Within a week, barring farther rains, the flood waters are expected to return _to ithe" Yangtze channel—United ress.
Shanghai, Aug, 1.
With the protecting dyke broken through in two places, all the foreign homes located in the race: course area abandoned, and thousands of native refugees fleeing into the foreign concessions for safety, {ee Hankow is facing one of the most serious floods in its entire history, according to authentic information received in Shanghai on July 31 from the strike ares, To date the rise of the river has equalled the 1870 record of 80 feet, five inches, which is the deepest water registered in the history of. Hankow.
At the present time most of the streets of Hankow, including those fof the concessions, are under four feet of water with the Yangtze and Han rivers continuing to rise, the /"North-China Daily News" correspondent reports. 'The race course itself, which comprises a large area embracing two golf links, a cricket field and polo grounds, is entirely. under water with an' increase of four inches an hour being registered. Occupants of the foreign homes in' this area, consisting of approximately 20 houses occupied by. the most influential foreign residents of Hankow, have abandoned ier possessions and taken refuge in the city. 'The property loss here alone will run into many' thousands dollars.
While the district along the river is somewhat higher than surround ing territories, with the godowns located there protected with special dykes, nevertheless this protection is limited and if the river water continues to encroach, it is feared that the defences will prove inadequate. Should this occur the loss of foreign merchandise will run into many thousands of dollars, Throughout the Wuhan district, all travel, except that by bent has ceased, the United Press dispatches related yesterday, estimating the death toll among the peasantry the province to total over 600. Of the these only 60 bodies have been re~ covered by the river police.
Provincial authorities also are greatly worried over the condition of the Changkung dyke, the main flood protection for Hankow on the west, the "North-China Daily News' correspondent reports. This dyke, which is over 20 miles long, is very in several places and hun-of men have been impressed effort to effect repairs to the itened sections. The failure of the dykes at Wuchang and Hanyang to withstand the turbulent waters has resulted in a tremenduous territory being flooded.
Should the Changkung dyke carry away, Hankow will be inundated by over 15 fect of water, the United Press declares. Outside this dyke the rice fidds are covered with 20 feet of water in some places, only the tops of farm houses showing where hundreds of prevails, the thousands of Who once inhabited this district having fled into the foreign concessions for protection.
In the Japanese concession the utmost activity prevails in an effort, to stop the water from rising above the four foot level. Hundreds of workers are struggling to erect emergency dams with the assistance of landing parties from the foreign gunboats in the harbour.
At first Friday of last week was regarded as the climax by many people, the sunshine of Saturday raising hopes that the flood would subside, according to the special report of the "North-China Daily News" correspondent.
'The chain-pumps and Sre-engine apt the streets dear of accomat= drainage for a time but on Mon: ay' the situation grew worse With the rain flooding the streets and making the efforts of the Pumps Fate" Boty Sections of the elector plant worked frantically but were, nolo fo cope with the situation Inthe Chinese city the waters. the Han River deeded large atess through the sewers and forced the faving up from the street surfaces feared that many old buildings in thie aren will collzps, owing fo the foundation being undermined.
apart consisting of Messre ile the Changkung" Dyke re: fendy, brought Back the informa: tion that a section measuring about 00 feet had caved in on the city side. This has weakened the dyke materially at this point. Built. in
prevent the Han water from Aeod Brest vieeory Chang Chih-tung to
ing Hankow, over a million dollars Thave been collected in special im-[port taxes during the last few yours fo maintain the structure, that river will remain in spate for many days to come. Due to the fact that country people are pouring in hundreds' into Hankow the ity police have been ordered to take special. precautions lest. communist agitators stir these refugees up to make trouble, The Benevolent, Halls have also been asked start rice-kitchens. Incidentally, the military are taking the opportunity. to enlist a large number of men while there are so many Jooking for something to do.
Confirmation of the serious condition at Hankow was received through private sources on July 31 by Mr. ©. C. Tod of Jardine, Matheson & Ca, Ltd, So far, however, inbing on the river is proceeding fas usual, Mr. Tod stated..
Aug. 3:
With the clearing of general weather conditions, coupled with the fact that there has been a one foot drop in the river at Ichang, residents of Hankow are hopeful that the flood has reached its ferest, according to information received in Shanghai on August 1 from the up-river city. No change in conditions, however, is apparent jas yet in Hankow, the situation remaining practically the same with refugees continuing to flock Into the foreign concessions and the entire city itself under from {four to five feet of water.
SAD. 3 continues to be the most, badly inundated section with practically every building possessing basement rooms flooded, Sampans are now the only method of transportation in this area with Jsampan men reaping a rich harvest Jin fares, inasmuch as they are making the most of their oppidt= tunity by charging double rates, Along Sankino street, in. the former Russian concession, house owners have made a strenuous effort to keep the water from Invading their premises by building walls of brick and mortar three or four feet high in every entrance,
fare located on low land, with In some places where the buildings possibility of the flood rising even ther, the doorways and windows of the lower stories, have been bricked up entirely. Ladders are then placed to upper windows and entrance to the buildings obtained fin this manner.
With the flooded streets covered Jwith sampans hurrying to and fro, new traffic problem has arisen with frequent collisions at eross-roads, the rampanmen not being familiar with the roles of the Several small steam Inunches also and prevailing on land areas attempted to navigate the flooded districts but gave up the effort after running aground numerous times and causing householders. to complain on account of the backwash, Practically every sampan is flying the pennant or banner of some hong while others are covered with signs advertising some particular firm or line of goods.
The refugee situation is one of most serious problems facing Hupeh provincial authorities with the result that a general conference has. been called of al municipal officials and public bodle jin order to devise ways and means of granting relief. Local banker have agreed to float a loan of '$300,000 for this purpose with. more to be raised later if necessary.
'A Chinese news agency estimates that the store of grain in Hankow sufficient to Inst 40 days. Reuter, rts. With all communication ith the interior suspended and the various adjacent districts to Hankow completely flooded, _con-iderable anxiety if felt in, official concerning the sufficiency Sapely of sot 'A close watch is being kept on the Changkong Dyke, which known to be weak in many places, and a continually at work strengthening, large men are "Arrangements have len. made fire a warning gun in case a serious break should. occur. This was the chase of & panic several days ago when, a naval salute was fired ithe river and the inhabitants mistook the ting for" the warning signal.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.