Throughout all the disturbances in the Kiangpeh region, it has remained up to the present, the great place of plenty upon which Shanghai depends or its eggs, pork, vegetables, chicken, weet potatoes and the like.
Some ports as Kowan are supplying he Japanese traders, while other tall ports supply British, American, Jerman, Italian and Portuguese mer-hant vessels with cargoes.
The crops this year are excellent aving been modified largely to meet shanghai markets rather than foreign hipping. Cotton has greatly de-teased and vegetables and foodstuffs ner eased labourers. The river has shrunk to almost nothing, and it was a new experience to cross most of the way on a bicycle.
The guards at Putai city and Pei chen seem to be of a better type. Those who were there before beat a hasty retreat by night, after much looting. Guerillas, irregular troops, bandits and even red spears, are represented in the districts bordering on the river banks.
Cold winds, frost and ice, having introduced winter, the last remaining leaves and twigs are being laboriously and conscientiously gathered by. all members of the family, children doing a good share, Coal. is much dearer, and many tiny stoves will have to be unlit this winter.
A joint committee of missionaries and Chinese church leaders in this part of Shantung are engaged in promoting many forms of relief work. At Peichen a refugee camp of 300 is in operation. Chowtsun has a group of 106 children being taught, fed and clothed, and also plans a soup kitchen aided by a generous grant from the Lord Mayor's China Fund,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.