Local Plans for Flood Sufferers' Relief: Hospital Ship Scheme Discussed Aug. 20, 'The problem of coping with refugees from Hankow and river villages who, it is rumoured, may fill Shanghai' to its utmost capacity within' the next few weeks, is serious, if hypothetical, Disease, starvation, destitution, will if not properly handled fill the city to the peril and hardship of the Settle-iment. At the present date stem ship" offices "report that" their Chinese passenger lists from Han-Kow have been. abnormally' large but these passengers have all been of a fairly well-to-do. class. No free passage has been given to any fof the flood sufferers and it is not robable that' steamer transporta-ion will be available to the thousands who are trying so desperate: ly to find shelter in. Shanghai Nanking and since a distance of {G00 miles must be travelled before Shanghai may be reached it is Aiffieuit to estimate the magnitude the whole situation will assume. But oven an influx of crowds the more prosperous classes may present a serious problem, since food and shelter are limited Shanghai even though money is at hand.
At present the Municipal Council is thinking, not without. qualms fof the situation which may face Tater on should the refugees find some possible means of transport ing. themselves into Shanghai, and ile no actual plans " ha "potential resources been discussed, The Municipality of Greater Shanghai may be expected to. work in conjunction with the Municipal Council in solving the problem of food, shelter, hospitals, Tnedieal"serviees, and clothing, done without © imperilling residents with infectious diseases.
As in the case of the 1924 and 1027 war refugees, detention camps will be erected on the outskirts of the Settlement, within Settl territory, but outside the Settlement line. uninhabited and ya Able for such camps within vicinity" of Pinglang "Road and extending almost, to, Yangtszepoo Road. Poyang Road, Kueiyang Road, Tingha Road, Liping Road, and Hochien Road, all are flanked by fields which may be used for such a pur po tents will be put up time there is sufficient: food fable in Shanghai to take care of considerable numbers of persons who have been used to living starvation rations. Should the situa-ion become so serious that th food supply would be entire! adequate appeals. will be Japan and to Amer particularly of rie It is the problem of di pestilence which is most perturbing AL present. Not only must sufferers be kept away from the Settlement, but they must also be isolated from, their fellow refugees who have yet become infected.with dise it is probable that the greater portion of available area will, therefore, be usa for Detention Hospitals in the shape of tents or Medical service will have fo, be volunteered by the supply of doc tors in Shanghai—admittedly limi ed under such circumstances. The Red Cross will be appealed to, and itis believed will give valuable assiatanee and ce-operation, Volunter nurses will, of course, provide all the aid whish is in their power, It is, also believed that various women's clubs will contribute their vices and charity towards coping with the situation. Under the supervision of the Health Depa: ment of the Municipal Council and the Municipality of Greater Shanghai it is believed that, should the
erwhelmingly large, the disease ber of refugees not be too situation may be kept well en hand. There will be, of course, a di ous strain on medicinal supplies.
Aug. 21.
In view'of the seriousness of the flood situation in the Wuhan area, the question of despatching ships: from Shanghai to Hankow.to bring the sufferers to this city was brought up for discussion at a meeting called by Mr. T. V. Soong, the Finance Minister and chairman of the National Flood Relief Committee, at the Shanghai office of the Representatives of both ig Chinese and foreign ship-companies, including Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, Messrs, Jar-Matheson & Ca. the China Merchants S.N. Ca. the San Pei S.N. Ca,, and the Ningpo-Shaohsing.N. Ca., attended the meeting and, after prolonged discussions, those resent agreed to despatch vessels to the Wuhan area to bring the sufferers to Shanghai should the continuous rise of waters in the, Yangtze River make the action necessary.
It has been learned that Gen. Chiang Kai-shek has ordered the release of all Chinese ships Which have been commandeered for the transportation of Government troops so that'these vessels may be sent to Hankow to bring the flood sufferers to place of safety. Nearly all of the commandeered ships are now stationed in the various Yangtze ports and, 300n as the authorities concerned received Gen, Chiang's order, the vessels will be released and sent yesterday, to the Wuhan area, it was learned
"Aug. 22, Shanghai's general approval ithe "scheme to provide a hospital ship was the chief matter discussed at a meeting of the Yangtze very little time had been given for} those asked to attend the meeting!
make arrangements to be there, small attendance \journment was made!
Monday, when it is expected there will be a large and representative gathering.
Major W. S, Nathan, of the Pekin 'Syndicate, took the chair, pointed out that in view of the very' short notice given all those invited were not present, the list having only been drayon' up at the meeting on the previous day. In forder to arrange the flood. relief Properly it would be necessary to fclect sub-committees, and he therefore proposed that another. meeing should be held an 'Monday, when all committee will be present' In the! meantime he proposed to outline the situation to those present, Many suggestions had been made, but the best appeared to be that of providing. a hospital ship, fully manned by missionaries. The 3 [Would carry with it medical plies and disinfectants, as well the means life, and ments would have to be water, In short, the ship would carry" all that @ committee of doc-[tors would recommend.
With something definite in view there would no doubt be substantial contributions forthcoming, and the Sooner money could be raised the better. The Lester Trust,—for instance, would contribute Tls. 10,000 if it were found possible for it do so under its foundation, but it seemed more in the scope of the Trust to provide medical supplies and to nominate a staff of doctors for the hospital ship. matter information for the Mr. stated, as a
meeting, that the China National Relief Committee had already asked for, foreign representatives, thus making its scope international. Mr. Kuo asked if this would fany effect on the foreign committee Whose meeting he was attending.
Major Nathan pointed out that the foreign committee would collect subscriptions from foreign sources with which it would be in better touch than the National committee, and that, though a separate body, it would' of course ce-operate with the National committee. This would be a matter for consultation between "the two organizations when the National committee decides on what measures it is going' to-take.
But, he added, the whole prolem was so urgent that he felt the foreign committee must go ahead arid get funds. Ultimately. the National committee would find the foreign committee's work of great assistance.
In reply to Miss Ayrton, Major 'Nathan. stated that the' Lester Trust had not as yet been approached officially, but he had talked with De; Russel, who, bad many good ideas, In reply to Mr. Calder-Marshall, who asked rear ing the cost of 2 hospital ship, Major Nathan said that he. hoped ithe. shipping companies would get together and between them provide a ship, at a reasonable rate.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.