1931-08-31 — Page 7

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1931.

THE YANGTSZE VALLEY

CATASTROPHE

WORST FLOODS IN FIVE HUNDRED YEARS.

WATER RECEDING AROUND HANKOW: SERIOUS POSITION IN HUAI RIVER DISTRICT.

Further details of the Yangtse Valley floods, and of the appalling devastation in the contral provinces appear in the Shanghai papers and in mailed news from the Kuo Min Newi Agency, The floods appear to be receding in the Yangtare Valley, but further north Anhwoi, Horan and north Kiangsu are suffering to a hardly less serious degree than Hunan and Hupolt.

The greatest dangers are from epidemics, and of a vast political uplicaval. Already the Communists are seeking to exploit the situation, and they will have as thoir “raw material' over twenty million destitute persons. The Nationalist Government is doing the best it can "organize both "modical and relief services, but the situation calls for world-wide help.

FEAR OF VAST POLITICAL UPHEAVAL.

WATERS RECEDE.

LITTLE SCOPE FOR RELIEF AT PRESENT,

THE WORST OVER

REDS MOVE ON WUHAN.

ADVANCE FROM ANHUI AND ORDER BEING MAINTAINED,

HUNG LAKE.

Hankow, Aug. 23.-Another day ger of famina growing still more interview granted to Reuters repre- in the waters of the Yangtaza Hankow, Aug. 23. With the dan Nanking, Aug. 24-In an exclusive has passed with no further ris acute in Hankow to-day a newsentative Dr. Wa. Kuo-cheng, horror was added to the multi Director of the Financial Bureau River. It is hoped that the worst tude of horrors in this flood strick" of the Hupeh Provincipal Govern is ever as far as the flood is con- en region when epidemics of diseasement, who has just arrived in the earned and that the water, will broke out in the few refugees con-capital from Hankow to confer centration camps which already with the Government leaders about continue to subsido gradually. have been established.

the Wuhan food situation, atates Order is being well maintained that there are 10,000,000 people in the Wu-Han ären by the local destitute in Hapch, without any police and gendarmes in conjuno shelter, food, clothing or money,

It in extremely difficult to givetion with a part of the 48th Divi-

Cholera, malaria, typhoid fever, and dysentery are causing the most suffering but several other forms of contagious disease aro provalent

The Hupeh branch of the Na tional Flood Relief Commission has

an accurate figure of the number ion under General Hsu Yuan. of persons who have been drowned

or who have died of starvation,chuan. It is learned that the Cen-

DEVASTATION IN HUAI

RIVER VALLEY.

VAST AREA IN THREE PROVINCES FLOODED,

EVO MIN KEWA KOKNOT.]

HONG KONG STOCK MARKET.

SATURDAY'S TRANSAC

TIONS.

The Stock Exchango's official

Nanking, Aug. 20-While atton-summary for Saturday abaton.-- tion to the Bood disaster has boon When the market opened there focussed almost entirely on - tha was a firm demand for most, stocks Yangtze River basin, the flood in and numerous sales were transnot- the Huai River district embracing ed. north Anwei, Honan and north. Trams wore done at 22.10, and Kiangsu has also attained disas | there were still buyers at the close trous proportions,, causing loss of at 822. | lives and property bardly less than the Yangtze, floods. The following is a brief report of the Euai River food submitted to the National Flood Relief Commission by the Huai, River Conservancy Commis rio:

Star Forries, which were nego tiated at 8041 and 8941, ware want- ed at 8041.

China Lights, ofter being done at 129 and 1201, wore still in de mand at $20,15.

Telephones (part paid) were dealt in at 8343 and 834.60, and at the close there were buyers at 234. For the fully paid shares $46) was on offer

Investigation by the ngineer ing staff of the Huai River Commis sipa and information

gathered from various sources has established that nearly half of the Hual River basin has been badly damaged and a big

Providents were reported sales at percentage totally inundated by the foods, while the rest of that im- $8.45 and 80.85, but there wore sell portant agricultural area is concrs at 381 and buyers offering $6.40. sideraly affected.

Ropes" were, again in demand at $22, after sales at this rate.

For the new shares there were buyers at 83:03.

In the provinces of Honnn and Anhwei, approximately so krien Lands were put through at $914. have been swept over by the food,

Humphreys were the medium of with all the summer crops and vil-sales at $221, and there were buyers lages destroyed, and even cities at this figure. have been badly damaged.

9,000 Square Miles Flooded in Klangsu

At the middle and lower regions east of Chen Yang Kwan and ex-

Realties, after sales being put through at $17.80, had sellers offer |ing shares at 817.80.

Government Loan stock was dis- posed of af 851 per cent, premium,

Hotels (old) had sellers at $17.85, this quotation.

and for the shares there were

„DBW

In organised under the Chair but according to Dr. Wu, the. tral Government has decided to tending down to the low-lying re. and there were further buyers", at {

manship at General Fong Pan Jon. Sq. Worrible are the conditions in

the refugee camps that immediate

nedical relief is planned.

Arrangements have beon com- pleted to inoculate at least 100,000 persons with anti-cholers scrum. Hospital accommodation is mest inadequate, and the medical workers are labouring under nearly over whelming handicaps.

Mr. C. H. Li has arrived by Aeroplano to aid in the relief work. He wil place five river steamships at the disposn! of the Flood Relief

Commission' to necommodato:"ro fugees. Several hundred Ningpc junks are being brought up the river to Hankow to serve the anme purpced.

Aerial Survey..

Mr. John Earl Baker of the National Flood Relief Commision has made a new aeroplane survey of the inundated area. He is able to report that the water has reced. ed from a strip about five miles wide at the edge of the fooded sone, indicating that a gradual fall" is in progress. "When mud replaces water, however, the disease dangor will become even more scute and relief offorts, atill most sketeby in effectiveness, must be intensified.

The river level at Hankow re- mains high, fluctuating between 35 feet, 4 inches, and 53 fort, 7 in, ches. Throughout the Wuhan area buildings continued to collapse te day. In the native city of Han kow it is known that many were killed in the collapse of overcrowd ed buildings this afternoon but the death toll cannot be estimated ao- curately.

Buildings housing girls why were entertainers in Haukow cabarets before the flood made dancing im possible collapsed last night. Several entertainers, trapped, are. known to have drowned.

+

figure exceeds 8,000.,

Thero

(districts) in Hupeh. At the pro- are altogether 08 haien

sent moment, 40 of them, the must

ro.

division and several gunboats.. inforce the local garrison by cagion cast of the Grand Canal in Kiangsu, there is an area of about Hankow, Aug. A fall of one 0,000 square miles inundated by

༣ :

populons and prosperous districts, inch in the waters of the Yangisze flood water at a depth of from 3 buyers at $16.70, but sollers wanted

are finder water. The Hupeh Pro- vincial Government has already spont more than 81,100,000 for the relief of the flood refugees, and it must continue to provide shelter,

tate people for at least seven more food, and clothing for, these desti- months. As the greater "majority of these people are farmors, they cannot earn anything until the April next year. next harvest time which will be

Highest for 500 Years, According to Dr. Wu Kuo-cheng the highest water-mark" registered this year, at Hankow, fifty-three foct seven inches on August 10, is unequalled in history, so far as scientific measurements can provo. The only food in any way com- parable, to the present one occur red in the later part of the 18th contury,

The flood situation is of a much

mere serious nature than is gen crally recognised. It is feared, in well-informed circles, that it may bring about the greatest social and political upheaval in the country. Matters are all the moro alarming for the reason that very little can be done to stop them. The Gov ernment has its hands full to take care of the flood refugees, but the worst time will come when the floods are over.

There are 10,000,000 destitute in Hupch alone, Combined with those of Hunan, Kiangsi, and Anhui provinces, the number will be ensi- y alcyo 25,000,000. They have no homes, food, clothing, or money. They have no alternative but to face starvation or to hope for a great sccial upheaval Fully With the flood waters showing grasping the significance of the no signs of abating and with the situation, the Communists are populace growing increasingly bending their efforts towards build. desperate minor disorders are boing up a great Communist centrò coming more frequent, FLOOD RELIEF COMMISSION

was recorded during the last 24 to 10 feet. The inundation will last hours. According to expert cpin. for several months, and no one can ion, however, it will take consi. say definitely when it can ba

cities will be entirely drained. derable time before the Wu-Handrained.

817.10

Cements had buyers at $201, bút | no shares came out.

Watsons were at Friday's rate $171, buyers.

Constructions were in demand at

$13, but there was nothing to re-

The summer crops are destroyed, and there is no prospect of winter crops. Most villages are ruined and several cities are badly cord. damaged. The disaster is probably much were than that in the even m upper region.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Over a thousand refugees taking shelter at the Kaitze barruke in Wuchang were drowned yesterday the flood wators broke When through the dyke outside the East Gato and rushed into the city. Im.

***Besides this, the many rivers provised dans are being erected or of south Shantung which couvert the main streets of Wachang to with the lower outlet of the Huai. koop out the flood waters which River are also in high flood, and LAST WEEK'S ACTIVITJES. have been steadily creeping in here too approximately 10 Asien Scenes resembling those at Hankow are inundated are now being witnessed here.. "Roughly speaking, the totál of what is The walled city of Wachang re-food-damaged ares mains in total darkness at night, known as the Huaj River basin is Peace and order, however, are around 80 beien, scattered in the well maintained, though the many provinces of Honas, Anhwei, Kiang thousand food "refuges from Han su and Shantung. kow are feeling increasingly un- easy. A large number of tents cap. able of accommodating 10,000, ra fugees may be erected on Hungshan hill in the southern sub the

urb of this city.

The food was caused by the un. precedented heavy rainfall over the whole, drainage ares from the end.

number of rainy days, the intensity of June to the end of July. The

and the extent of the rainfall have An Emergency Flood Prevention Committee for Wuthang has been broken all existing records. The inaugurated by the Provincial Aurainfall has been especially heavy thorities to cops with the loca at the upper region sipag the urbs of Wuchang bordering the junction of the provinces of Honan situation. Practically all the sub. Peiping-Hankow Railway at the

and Anhwei, and this is the main Yangtze have been inundated,

cause of the torrents that swept the farms and destroyed the dykes of the Hual River and its tribu- tarice in Achwei

THE YELLOW RIVER.

(KUD MIN NEWS AGENCT.]

Más Dyker on Grand Canal. Nanking, Aug. 24.-Reports from Since the silting up of the out- Tainan stato that the Yellow, River

averted" if the river at Shanchow

|

SUNDAY, August 23.

His Excellency the Governor and Lady Poal gave a

small supper party on board the Kau Bing MONDAY, Augint 24. ́.

His Excellency the Governor and Lady Peel accompanied by Captain TAH, Coltman AD.C. dined with the Hon. Mr. and Mrs Southern at the Shoko Country Club. TUESDAY, August 5

His Excellency the Governor ac

penter, Mr.HM. Henderson companied by the Hon. Mr. H. T. Creasy (D.PW.), Mr. E. W. Car

and Mr. J. S. (A.D's. P.W.) Maclaren (D.O. South) visited the new Shing Mun water works, and inspected the village of Tsun Wan where. His Excellency was receiv. ed by the Elders:

His Excellency the Governor THURSDAY, August 26.

presided at the meeting of the Ex ecutive, Council, SATURDAY, August 29,

Lady Feel were "At Home" at His Excellency the Governor and

Mountain Lodge to Members of the Society of Yorkshiremen and their families

Mr. G. H. Poits, Mr. P. C. Potts, and Mr. Schreiber arrived ut Mountain Lodge.

in the Wuhan area. A notorious Communist leader General Kwang chi-hau, whose stronghold is al Kingchiachai, enthe Hupch FOREIGN HELP ENLISTED.

Anhui bordar, is advancing to wards Chishui, in Hupeh, at the at various, sections in Shantung has let of the Huai River by the Yellow [KDO MIN NEW AGENCY.].

head of ning regiments of well- Armed Communist soldiers. If been continually receding. It is be-River in the past century, the food Shanghai, Aug. 23,--The National over the destitutes in the Hankowieved that serious disaster may be water of the Huni River is running Flood Relief Commission to-day area join hands with the Comin Henan, dose not rise again. The into the Yangtze River through a announced that it has received munists, the situation will become Le Biver, a tributary of the Yellow chain of lakes at the west of the is comparatively low in elevation, from the following persons. in very precarious

River in north-western, Honas, also Grand Canal. The outlet, barely suitable outlet, the flood that has and there is also zo adequate or addition to about sixty, prominent

registered a fall of over four inches sufficient for normal year, is en- inundated this part of the country members of the Chinese com-

yesterday.t munity, acceptance of invitations to Belgo pour l'Etranger: R. Laurenz, As a result of the foundation of tirely inadequate for such an e ex-may continue for indefnite become additional members of the Carlowitz et Corn Cobensin, muore districts in Hong, sovince, ceptional food as this year. The period, Commission: John Ear Baker Missions Building: Du Pic de Mar the number of afflicted districts up water leve in those lakes has been Plans for the Future! Adviser, Ministry of Railways Coulies, French Municipal Council; to date has reached 87: The Pro

To prevent the flooding of the New York E. L. Brandl, Engineer- Customs: Henry Marot, Banque appropriato $250,000 to carry out by a dyke from those lakes, which detention works upstream, to recon Bennett, National City Bank of F. W. Blaze Inspector-General of vincial Government has decided to increasing steadily during the food. Huni River, the Hugi River Com

The Grand Canal is separated only mission has planned to build flood ing Adviser to Chekiang Provincial de Indo-Chine; Major W6 emergency relief in the stricken Government N Browo, Butter Nathan, Peking Syndicate, Lide areas

are connected to each other at struct the dyke system along the dick & Swire: R. Calder Marshall, T. Ohmoorn, Mitsui & Co J. B. Both the Grand Canal and the several places. Consequently, the Huni River and its main tributaries, Calder Marshall & Co., Ltd. JW Powell, China Weekly Review: F Ta Ching River have again rises to water level in the Grand Canal. has to improve the outlet to the Yang Carney, Standard Oil Co. of New T. Pratt Chine Press: Bishop In dangerous hoight, necording to also risen higher and higher, up to taco River, and also to excavato York Herbert Chatley, Whanepoo H. Roots, American Church Mis. Tientsin meaango.

such a stage that the water level new outlet to the sea. As immedi Conservancy, Hoard F. A. Clevo sion. Hankow Archibald Rose Collapse of the Vanglouching dyke is overtopping the east dyke over ate relief is, needed for the people Jand, Associato Chief Inspector of British American Tobacco Co. is feared

length of more than 100 kilometres in the flooded district, the National Salt Revenus: Jenni Donnet, Chair Tid M. Sanelman. International Kiukiang as well as districts brand, the military forces, along the the refugees for construction work The Kiangsu Provincial Authorities Government has decided to employ anan. French Chamber of Commerce Savings Society CV Starr, dering, the Poyang Lake are still a canal have fought the flood vigorns a principle of relief. The Husi Chips T. Functsu, Japanese American Asiatic Underwriters: Col. a very precarious state, according ously by increasing the dyke about River Commission recommends the Cotton Millowners' Association: EG. G. Stroebe, Yangtze River Com to reports received here. Over and Herald, Ltd. P. S. Hopkins, for China: T. O Thackrey, Shang river port during the past few days. that danger is always present. letto the aes as the proper work Howard North China Daily News mission; U Favella, Italian Bank 8.000 refugees have poured into the two metres higher throughout. No reconstruction of the dyke system dyke break has yet occurred, but add the excavation of the new out- Shanghai Power Co.; G. E Hub-hai Evening Post and Arthur Natan dan harga hard, Hong Kong & Shanghai Yang, Financial Adviser

CHIANG VISITS HANKOW. Without any other possible way to be carried out under the Govern Banking Corporation Ikeda, Mr. TV. Soong, Chairman of the

of relief, several sluice doma were ment famine relict scheme. The China Press Father R. Jacquinot, Commission, stated that it is very

(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENOT.]ordered to be opened, thus sacrific engineering side of such works Shanxi Cribolics Circle Jobe gratifying that these persons have

HaXXowAugust 29,

section of the parot foesie was ensefaly prepared agme timef -Keswick.Jardine: Matheson & Co consented to serve as members.

Chiang Kai Shek, arrived here by

of the majority Bince ago by the Huai River Commission, Ltd. Henry Lambert, Banque Further invitations are being issued gunbont from Kiukinng in order to

cast of the Grand Canil se actual work can be started with (Contiasca on next Columns) from time to time.

investigate the Bood condition

inued-on-next-Column) ———— out any further survey,

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