300,000 LIVES LOST.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20330, 1 September 1931, Page 11

300,000 LIVES LOST.

CHINESE DISASTER.

ANCIENT CANAL'S DYKES COLLAPSE. (UKITED PRESS A.SSOCUTTOK —BY ELECTBIO TELEGRAPH —COPYJEU3HT.) SHANGHAI, August 31. Official reports from Nanking estimate the total loss of life along tho Grand Oanal at 300,000, as a result of tho collapso of tho dykes in tho densely populated areas of the Hangchow district, following a typhoon which passed on August 25th. Owing to lack of communication the provincial Govornor was unable to report tho catastrophe before.

Following unprecedented rains fifteen sections of tho canal retaining walls aollapsed, completely submerging eight towns, Kao-yu, containing 500,000 inhabitants, suffering worst. The Klangsu Government is unablo to eope with the situation, which renders relief measures almost beyond control. The Hankow situation is unchanged. A cholera epidemic lias broken out, compelling the evacuation of practically all foreigners. [Tho total length of tho Yun-lio, generally known in Europe as tho Grand Oanfil, is about 1200 miles. It extends from Ilanltow to Tientsin in Ohih-li, where it joins tho POllio, providing a oontlnuous waterway almost to Peking. In the southern section the water is plentiful, varying from 7ft to lift in depth. Between the beautiful eity of Su-ehow and ohin*kiang tho Grand Canal is often over 100 ft wide. It is Spanned by fine stone bridges, and its sides in many places are faced with stone. Much of the country to the eastward is lower than the canal. The most ancient part of the Yun-lio is said to have heon built in 486 B.C. _ It was repaired and enlarged in tho third century A.D. The southern part was built early in the seventh century A.D. Great stretches have been badly neglected—hence the menace of serious floods.]