The continuous fall of rain in the Manchuria has resulted, reported the "Eastern Times" on September 1, in. the most serious flood recorded for more than a century past.
Beginning carly in August, the rainfall was the heaviest during the first fortnight of the month and the! waters of the various rivers rose] to such dimensions that services on the Peking-Mukden and the Sze-Tino} Railways, the latter being one of the latest lines constructed by Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang, were interrupted through wash-outs and the flooding of more than 20 districts.
In Hsinming-hsien, it is said, the Liu, Liao and Yaoyang Rivers rose to such an extent that they all burst their banks and flooded more than 1,600,000 mow of land which was! under cultivation, 62,700 farmers and their families being' rendered homeless. Although the waters have since subsided considerably, the damage caused to the fields is estimated in excess of $15,000,000, because the rushing flood waters' covered the farms with silt and sand and made them useless for agricultural purposes, for this year at least. In addition, the crops which were nearly ready for reaping have been totally destroyed. The flood situation this district is reported to be the most serious inasmuch as nearly 120 lages were affected.
In Hashin-hsien, the water rose to as high as 32 ft. at Muchang Village. More than 70 villages were! inundated and the losses also aro} estimated in millie The rising waters of the Liu River! were responsible for considerable damage caused to the people of Suichung-hsien where 34 of the 70 villages were totally swept away. More than 25,000 houses collapsed or *|were washed away, 33,000 persons were rendered homeless and the! crops which covered about 1,000,000 mow of land were destroyed.
When the waters reached their highest, the railway officials stationed at Liuho, on the Peking-Mukden Line, were forced to climb to the roofs of the station buildings for safety. Damage in this district is estimated at $10,000,000.
On August 3° and' 4, heavy rai fell, day and night, in Ching-hsien and, when it stopped, the water was six feet deep and more than 200] square li was inundated, A Jarge number of cattle and sheep' were! washed away and the refugees
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