FAMINE IN SHANTUNG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19928, 23 April 1928, Page 11

FAMINE IN SHANTUNG.

APPALLING CONDITIONS. WORST FOR TEN YEARS. NO RELIEF NOW POSSIBLE. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received April 21, 5.5 p.m.) SHANGHAI. April 20. The statement that 1,000,000 natives in the province of Shantung, the scene of the present hostilities, are doomed to die from starvation is confirmed by the Shantung representative of the Peking Famine Relief Association. He says it is the worst famine for 10 years. What few crops were planted were consumed by the starving people >ofore they were ripe. It would b') impossible to send relief, even if it were forth cor.' ing, owing to the fighting in the vicinity of the afflicted area. NORTHERNERS ROUTED. TSINAN BEING SHELLED. FEARS FOR MISSIONARIES. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. SHANGHAI. April 20. The defence of the northern Chinese army is crumbling and its retreat is assuming the proportions of a rout, with the southerners in hot pursuit. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek's southern forces arc carrying all before them on the Shantung front. They have advanced their artillery within range of Tsinan, the. capital of the province of Shantung, and are reported to be shelling the city. Anxiety is felt for the large missionary population, including numbers of Canadians and Australians. Southern airmen are bombing Tsinan, and this is adding to the confusion.

The northern troops are reported to be demoralised as the outcome of the southerners' amazingly swift advance. In the <jvent of Tsinan falling and the southerners crossing the Yellow River, Marshal Chang Tso-lin, the northern war-lord, will require to throw his entire Manchurian army into the fighting line in order to save Peking. The " Christian general," Feng Yiihsiang, is rapdily advancing victoriously from the west. He is expected shortly to link up his forces with those of Chiang Kai-shek. TIENTSIN CONCESSION. ANGLO-CHINESE AGREEMENT. British Wireless. RUGBY, April 20. Despatches from China report that an agreement has been reached for the joint Chinesa and British administration of the British concession at Tientsin by a municipal council of five Chinese and five British members. An agreement about the franchise will remove the former discrimination between Chinese and British electors.