Chungking, Mar. 24.
Fifty thousand piculs of Hunan rice arrived in Szechuen today to supplement Chungking's food supply. The arrival represents the first instalment in the order for 200,000 piculs of tice placed by the National Food Administration with the Hunan authorities.
The socie will be held as a reserve against a possible shortage during the forthcoming bombing season in the event that communications are interrupted.
Besides the rice produced on local farms, Chungking receives a monthly supply of 242,869 piculs from 18 Ihslens in Szechuan province accord-Jing to the quota set up by the Food Administration, With civilian rice consumption averaging 100,000 piculs month, the city has a monthly surplus of 150,000 piculs.
'The transportation of Hunan rice to Chungking has been dificult, particularly after the fall of 'Ichang, Which cut off the Yangtze route. 'The Hunan rice barges now follow the 'Yuslu, one of the head-streams of the Yuan' river, sailing upriver till the south-eastern tip of Szechuan, The argo is then taken overland to the Wu river which flows into the Yani tae at Puling—Havas Telemondi Willkie Speaks for China Relief New York, Mar. 27, Mr, Wendell L, Willkie, Repubilcan "chieftain, was the' principal speaker last " night of a banquet pening a U.S,$5,000,000 China drive, The grand ball room of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel was the scene of the dinner, Mr, Vineet Sheehan, famous. journalist and chairman of the Writers Committee of the United China Relief organization, presided. Other speakers included Mrs, Pearl Buck, noted author, Mr, James G. Blaine, chairman of the board of directors of United Chioa Relief; Luce, publisher of "ito," Fortune" and magazines, and Dr, Hu Shih, hi se Ambassador to Washington, of New York's: social" register, wearing" beautiful Chinese gowns, acted as usherettes. 'The dinner was Chinese in food and style and the table was decorated in Chinese fashion, 'Mrs, Vincent Astor was chairman of the womens' committee for the
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