"Work is beginning forthwith upon dykes above Wuchang" said Sir John Hope Simpson on Dee, 15, upon his return from his visit of inspection to that area. "Upon a freach in the main Yangtze river dyke which ig more than 800 yards in length several thousands of men who have been up till now in receipt of relief in the camps of Black Hill, Wuchang, and are by now, performing tassie for wheat wages. A great hole forty fect below the bottom of the dyke was cooped out by the flood. But in the reconstruetion of the dyke it will be straight tened to cut out this portion. many men og possible will be drawn off on to this work, and for it will receive wheat. Wonien and children! must continue to be fed."
Sir John spoke of the enormous task facing the Commission with the courage born of long experience, but in no way minimized its gravity. Referring to the question of the distribution of the "wheat wage" he stated that it would be necessary to transport 169,000 tons of wheat to Hamkow and beyond within the next three months, besides the amount needed for parts of the river nearer
vision of shipping space to carry the mouth. This means' the pro-4,500 tons every day during that time. Shipping companies are carrying the wheat as freight free of profit: but obviously ordinary cargo for which they receive return, has right of way. There is often very. little space in an _upgoing steamer, and it is therefore impos ible to move the wheat quickly enough. Further, the river water is falling, and Ister ships will be unable to load as heavy cargoes.
Two more leading local merchants have resigned from the standing committee of the Anti-JJapanese and National Salvation Committee. 'They are Messrs. Yeh Wei-chun, chairman of the Chinese Rice Merchants, Guild, and. Tseng] the Chinese General Chamber of Dengting general seeetary'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.