SCOURGE OF CHINA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 78, 28 September 1907, Page 13

SCOURGE OF CHINA.

• ,—, — HALF A MILLION DEATdS IN THE FAMINE. The terrible famine which has raged in Central China for several months is now virtually over (says the Shanghai correspondent of the London Tribune). The crops planted with the seed distributed by tho relief committees aro being hai vestod ; tho missionaries who have laboured so assiduously in the cause of humanity are gradually coining down 10 the coast for a lest, and people aro beginning to count the cost in lives and money. Tho famino lasted less than eight months, and at tho worst period tho deaths were said to average 0000 a day, so that oven had this figure been maintained for the full period of the famino tho, total mortality would have been less than three-quarters of a million. The smallest estimate is half a million deaths. \ Many distiicts in the famine area enn point to tho benofits derived from relief woiks. To quote but one 1 , example, many miles of tho Grand Canal noith of (Jhitikiiinq; nrc now in good repair, nnd tins will help to pve\cut a t.ilnstropho in the future .similar to that which occurred last year when tho kca^y rains foil,