SERIOUS FAMINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27345, 22 March 1950, Page 5

SERIOUS FAMINE

Communist China i Millions Flee From Many Siriken Areas NZPA—Copyright Rec. 7.30 p.m. HONGKONG, Mar. 21. -Famine reports from many parts of Communist China continue to reach Hongkong, says the NZPA-Reuter correspondent, William Parrott. These reports come from areas containing about 200,000,000 people, or between one-third and one-half of the country’s population. The Chinese press today quoted a Communist admission that “ large numbers of people are fleeing from the famine-stricken areas in Shantung.” The press attributed the admission to Kuo Tze-hua, vice-chair-man of the People’s Provincial Government of Shantung, who said that the mass exodus of famine refugees was due to the “ poor leadership of responsible officials, and their failure to cope with an emergency situation.” According to the press, Kuo said that Shantung was affected by drought, epidemics, windstorms, floods, hailstorms, and insect pests between spring and autumn last year.” The area flpoded exceeded 2,000,000 acres in 105 counties, or ahout 12 per cent, of the farm land in the province. The number of refugees is estimated at between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000. The official Communist News Agency announced today that the Peking Government Ministry of Health was organising seven anti-epidemic corps to tour the famine-stricken areas in the various provinces.

Serious anti-Communist guerrilla activities were reported today from three parts of Kwangtung province. In one case 600 armed guerrillas ambushed a river convoy and seized two boatloads of rice, as well as machineguns and rifles.