August thorities oF the Mode area ut the It, is reported by the police ai-
back of the business section of Hankow that 600 bodies have already been gathered by the men lent out to perform this task. It will be a long time before the work completed, as witness the fact that of the boats carrying relict to the folk on the embankment struck the mat roof of a submerged house. The impact carried away a large section of matting and three corpses at once rose to the surface of the water. Hundreds must have made for the upper stories and have been trapped in this way, The foreign community is settling down to bear its ills as best it can, Horses are taken out for exe in the flooded streets by ener riders of both sexes. Tennis is being played on the root ut at least one godown. Punting and rowing have their attractions, ote young Indy usually gain a sampan vigorously rowed Chinese style by herself while the boatman rests at his ease. Wading thas lost its even for the ese as the water has become more filthy. A ris inches here, end reported Chungking and Tehang, hope for an a ment. Wet weather adds to the general discomfort even for those who have houses, Out on the dyke and railway embankment the relief workers find that many people would be quite willing to move provided all their remaining belongings are taken too. They will not respond to invitations to move without what they have "saved, The authorities have there fore arranged to send a fleet of oats to move the folks and th belongings to various points where they can squat or from which they can make a trek into the country. But the continuous rain and the steady aceumolation of water inland is becoming a serious menace, Word arrived, for example, from Siackan, this morning that dyke yy. So rapid the rise of the that folks who ran out: with a few things to the higher ground, found themselves up to their waists in water when they came for a second load. Under these "circuristances there. steady trek of refugees from the country fo. Hekow which counter-Balances the miner who try to [AL present the Benevotent Halls aiid others Move met the need Lor Hee-gruel and bread. very well In Tact the crowds on the embankment wfesterday and "that "they had Enough food but: that they" could dot eat it because they had neither ater nor te According to the latest estimates lof the flood disaster along the Yangtze River, the total damage the provinees of Hupeh, Hunan, Kiangsi, Anhui and Kiangsu_ is placed at over $200,000,000, Four million homes have been destroyed, and 23,000,000 people are in dire straits. Twelve per cent. of the arable land has been submerged. Buildings and farms damaged ex-Jeced_ 10,000, Among the stricken provinces, Mupeh is undoubtedly the worst) sufferer. When the Yangtze overflowed its banks, a number of villages were entirely buried in a watery grave overnight. An are Jof 18,000 square miles in the prov. ince is now under water, 'As a result of the unprecedent~ led deluge, the five provinces will sustain a loss of over 20 per cent. fof their crops this year. Many' jéistricts on both banks of the) Yangtze, which have hitherto been regarded as the richest agricultural areas of the country, are] Inow inundated, 'Months will' be required for the complete drainage of the flood waters. According to expert opinions, many parts will still be unwater even when winter approaches. Peasants in the various ted areas have given up all hope of harvest this autumn.
The inundation of the various! districts on the upper and lower reaches of the" Yangtze took place efter four weeks of incessant heavy rainfall beginning in the early; wart of July. Traffic in all cities bordering on the river has been practically at a standstill in consequence of the floods. The deluge is said to be without parallel in the yea learned that the Central Authorities have decided to float '$20,000,000 loan to meet the ex-Nenses of flood relief. In the mean-grant of $2,000,000 has been to the General Relief Committee for emergency relief.
Aug. 12.
Reports on the dire flood condi-yesterda; of the State tions in Hankow were considered at
Council. A telegram from President Chiang Kai-shek requesting that steps be taken for the relief of the people in the Wuhan Area was read. It was decided that. the [Ministry of Interior be instructed to devise necessary relief measures conjunction with the General Relief Committee.
Aug. 13.
A concrete programme for the relief of the fifty million unfortunate people in 16 flood-stricken provinces of the country has been formulated by the General Relief Committee, it is announced. Accord Ing to the programme, steps will first be taken to carry out emergency relief in the afflicted areas. The next stage calls for the em: ployment of able bodies refugees to undertake the repair as well as the building of embankments. Finally, rehabilitation measures in the various ill-fated provinces will be undertaker The family of the late Madame K.T. Soong, mother of the Finance Minister, Mr. 'T. V. Soong, and Mesdames Sun Yat-sen, Chiang Kai-[shek and H. H, Kung, has decided that all monetary gifts tendered in memory of the deceased lady will be entirely contributed towards the, National Food Relief Fund, it is The General Relief Committee, in the meantime, has launched a compaign for public Public organizations as well invited to assi in the urgent cause. Already a jeampaign has been' launched in Nanking and Shanghai where groups fare being formed to solicit contributions with a view to obtai ing a fund of half a million for immediate relief.
'Mr. Chuang Sung-fu, Acting Chairman of the Huai River Conservancy Board, is urging the people {to adopt wheat' as their staple food to relieve the heavy demand for rice, the supply of which has been Ag the flood victims are total of 50,000,000 piculs of would be required to. maintain them for half It is doubtful whether the under present economi Jeireumstances, can raise the ré- quired such of $600,000,000 to purchase enough rice at the rate of per picul.
Aug. 14.
The National Government has t ley created " the National Flood Relief Commission to deal with the unprecedented flood situation. in the Yangtze Valley and "else
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.