Work of Commission to China Under Colonel Bicknell Colonel Ernest P. Bicknell, Vice-Chairman of the American Red and Chairman of the Red Cross Comi to China, after completing his investigation of the famine provinces of China, came to Shanghai last week with his party, They sailed yesterday for the United States. The members of the commission are Mr. Evnest J. Swift, Mr. Win, M. Baxter, Jr, and Mr. John A, Pope, Mr.. Howard Bueknell, second secretary of the American Legation at Peking, is also accompanying the partys excellent student of the Chinese Tanguage and was very valuable on the trips the party made into the interior.
Early in June the party arrived Peking, not stopping in Shanghi but proceeding direct from Japan to Mukden and on to the city where they made their headquarters. They investigated the provinces in which famine was reported to exist, these being Honan, Hupeh, Shansi, Shensi, Suiyuan and Chahar, The State of affairs in these provinces differed. Many Kinds of conditions vere found. in some destitution fairly bad, and. others were Blomly getting over the former fentitutton, The recent heavy rains fad greatly improved conditions crops were beginning to grow And the people had a. much better outlooks "The state of altairs had Deen rhuch worse before the com-Insnion inde their investigation Difficulties of Travel Travel for the commission proved finely dificult owing to the bad mads, but with two motor cars that Itonged. to. the party of explorers under Mr, Roy Chapman Andrews the investigators covered the necestity werrltory. Apart from the final hardships and inconveniences that one meets with on such Journey the party had no encounters swith bandits, ete 'Colonel Bicknelt has been in Red cion work for over 21 years. The factual head of the American Red Grosse is the President of the United States, but the chairman is the festive' head and he is Judge John Barton "Payne. Judge Payne appointed this. commission to come to China. Under Judge Payne ate two. vice-chairmen, one in charge the-work in the United States and the other in' charge of all: work: outside. The latter is, the position that Colonel Bicknell has held for Amumber of years. He has been in Burope and was in the Far East in 1025. "He. received "the. honorary rank of Colonel during the World Wat when for over three years the Burope with the American While in Shanghai the commission discussed famine and other relief work with the various local organizations.
Colonel Bicknell is _necompanied by Mrs, Bicknell, and Mrs. Swift is ympanying her husband. fr.
assistant to Colonel Bick-well.
Mr Baxter is from St, Louis and Mr. Pope from Detroit.
With the exception of Mr. Pope the whole! party is returning on the Dollar Str. President Madison, while Mr. Tope will proceed to India and Burope before returning home.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.