DISASTER IN CHINA

Evening Star, Issue 20876, 20 August 1931, Page 8

DISASTER IN CHINA

HANKOW’S TERRIBLE PLIGHT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AFFEBTM STENCH IF DEAD ADDS Tl HMMft Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright* SHANGHAI, August 19* (Received August 20, at 9 a.m.) Slow death is engulfing the entire Hankow district, the water continuing to'create new high level records. It is estimated that 30,000,000 inhabitants are affected. The damage is beyond computation.The remaining dykes are crumbling rapidly and the most solid buildings are collapsing. The lack of drinking water and food is spreading the disease, and the absence of lighting at night is creating « situation unparalleled in China’s disasters. Tho stench of the dead human beings and animals adds to the horror. A British naval despatch reports the possibility of gunboats negotiating the streets in the event of it being necessary to prevent the looting of British property. A five-story Chinese hotel containing hundreds of refugees collapsed, sagging across the high-tension wires and heightening the dangers. Almost the entire autumn crops in the Yangtse Yalley are ruined, and unprecedented famine is ahead.