FAMINE IN SYMRNA

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3445, 19 March 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

FAMINE IN SYMRNA

PEOPLE LIVE ON WILD HERBS.

TURKISH PROVINCE STRICKEN.

fhe famine which now distresses the region of Urla, in the province of Smyrnaj has something particularly tragic about) it; In spite of abundant tobacco> crops, which once meant wealth and prosperity, people there are undergoing indescribable sufferings.

Breads and flour are completely wanting, and whale eiKfless tobacco bales wait for buyers—-Who do not come—the tobacco growers are compelled to eat anything they can lay their hands on, which,-, very often, is nothing mora than wild herbs boiletS with water. The second essential staple of the district is winev but last year's crop was desfroyed through! disease.

Famine in Amtolia is not a* rarity; when; it happen;? it is mostly a conse--quence of drought, or of a similar adversity, coupled with the usual' absence'of reserves,- The peasants-them offer themselves as country workers in the neighbouriafg provinces, or as servants - and porters in towns. Such' was the'ease with the Konia drought? a few yfears ago. Misery of this kind was never caused by failure;to secure' export for Turkishr goods, which always found sufficient safe abroad. This time, owing to> the general de--pression throughout the country, the peasants can hardly expect- to find* employment elsewhere^