FLOODS IN CHINA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 77, 13 November 1911, Page 4

FLOODS IN CHINA.

A picture of what China’s countless ii'd closely packed millions really mean, is, in some measure, indicated hy a correspondent’s letter on the recent Hoods in tlie Yang-tszc-Kiang Valley, which is the centre of the present revolutionary outbreak. Little news of these floods was sent hy cable, yet above Han-kau alone it is estimated that over two million people were washed out of their homes, and between Han-kau and Chin-kiang several millions more were similarly affected. All the way from Han-kau to Shanghai, GOO miles, the low-lying hunt along the river to a width of GO to 100 miles, had been under water

for over a month. The flood came when the rice crops were almost ready for harvesting, and for hosts of people the only way of getting food was to reap the rice under the water. The writer of the letter visited some of the hovels in which the flooded-out people horded with whatever live stock they had. They were bearing their troubles as if they wore part of the order of things. These, hov.ever, were the more fortunate ones; the loss fortunate had no place to rest in, and were entirely dependent on charity for food. It was expected that the distress in the winter would he terrible. At one town some Oread was thrown into the mud for refugees to scramble for. The strong got arm. fuls, the weak went without, and several people were killed. Works could lie built to protect the inundated districts, but it is doubtful if the Chinese will ever he able to build t ! era. A former official gave 300,000d01. to build dykes, but the major portion of the money was squandered by the overseers. Recently the Governor of the province sent an emissary with lOOOdol to help to relieve the distress near Wuhu. He found the singing girls of Wuhu too attractive, and spent it upon thorn. A number of underlings from one of the Yameng were recently despatched to give assistance in repairing a dyke. They found a dry temple more to their liking, and stayed there gambling and sleeping, returning later to report upon the excellence cf their work. It is not astonishing that the people of tire Yang-tsze' Valley have risen in rebellion, hut there is little chance of their condition being much bettered by it.