To the Editor of the "Nonri-Ciuwa Darcy News 'Sim—May I use the columns of your paper o report some of my Investigations into the water situation among refugees? In my letter entitled "A Cup of Cold Water," the plea was not' meant to be taken Iiteraily as a plea for cold water. The term was used with the intention of reminding Christians of 9 certain Galllean's words as to a cup of cold water given in His name.
As we would expect, the Salvation Army has handied the problem of water for the refugees in their camp) ina manner to command admiration. "Bolling, water Is to a Chinese what whiskey ig to a Scotchman," said Brigadier Morris. "Rice and bolling water are the two essentials for refugees, Given those two things, they' will survive," There was no doubt that they were surviving! As we entered the gate, opposite to 555 Route de Sieyes (around the corner from the Community Church), fam, yesterday morning, we met 900 healthy and moderately clean, youngsters marching off to school. Proceeding to the boiling water stove, we saw a long line, each with his bucket. The size of the bucket made no difference, as the dipper used gave the same amount of water to each one, Three times a day this boiling water stove Is going full blast, and the people get their ration of boiling] water as they get their ration of rice, We might have left this camp: joyously elated, but we did not, Here Wwas a camp with spacious grounds, clean. kitchen, splendid water ar-Fangements, a mat shed Infirmary and clinic, ample riving quarters, and only used to a little more than half of its. capacity! Equipment that would care for 7,500, and only 4,600 in the: cump! Lying close by was land that] Would necommodate 10,000 more. Memories of the pathetic plight of refugees who live in the street or, worse still, who live in the dark, auk buildings on Shansi Road, and other portions of the Central Dis~ trict, came to, mind, "Why don't you bring those poor folk here?" we inquired, "Because the French Mun!~ cipal Council decrees that no more refugees are to be allowed," was the reply. A- Municipal Council has uty to protect its people from a Jorge Mux of undesirables, but 0 the lay. mind it is. incomprehensible that an equipment already set up and going should be allowed to lie un-Used while tons of thousands rot in' the dark, dank buildings in the Central District! Surely, some Justment should be worked out between the authorities of the two alsteicts 1 "Some of the old women in those Central District camps haven't seen the sun since last August," remarked the Brigadier. Perhaps some of the ables Nave never seen the sun, we thought, And here are wide open spaces, and sunshine, and food and Water! Night in those buildings the Central District must be 9 carnival. time for rats and roaches. Water seems a matter of minor importance when sunlight and room move about is denied, but even here itis.a problem. A Red Cross Visitor writes: "How do you think the people one building get their water From the waste pipe of a hotel, by removing a stone or so around' the drain pipe!
One of the first gifts to come in to the Red Cross marked especially for water was a gift of $200 from a Indy, I was shown the camp to which this gift brought piped water, Seven shiny new taps were counted, and og we walked the length of the feamp to count them, we saw a long lee. line in the sun, 'They would be thirsty by the time they Kot their ice, we thought, and although the water was not yet turned on (May a1), it Was to be turned on "today," the' manager said. It was a comforiing thought, 'Another camp visited was opposite SIL Vu Yuen Road, behind Little Florist, A well-run camp, apparent ly: elean, accommodating 844 persons. By the' kitchen stood the water wagon that brings water for cooking! from the Fire Brigade, We were shown that pipes had been laid, and we were told that as they were out side the Settlement, it would take $400 of more {o connect the water. "Meantime, what do the people do for drinking water?" The manager's face registered astonishment. "Why, they can go out and buy hot water.
Over a hundred people in his camp!
save work." It is good to know they fare s0 prosperous, but looking around at the children," we doubted that anyone had enough water t6 drink.
The plight of mothers with small ables was one that stirred our sympathies.
The Red Cross has.been hard at work making a survey of those camps without a supply of water. The Rev, A. E, Small, successor to Mr.
Crawford of the Red Cross Food and Sheller Committee, is attacking the problem with energy. We shall hope! soon to have a report from him as to how the money contributed for this purpose is being used. Today, we happen to know that he is working on the problem of getting water containers to camps that have nothing] fo put the water in If it is-brought to them!
Atlee Gnecc. Shanghai, June 7.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.