THE CHINESE FLOODS
[To the Editor of the Scumaton.] Sun, Since Mr. H. T. Silcock's letter appeared in your issue of March 19th it is satisfactory to learn that much has been done to prevent a recurrence of the floods this suminer. A recent cable says that in one hundred-mile section of the Yangtze in the neighbourhood of Hankow eighty per cent. of the necessary repairs to the dykes have been carried out. This section only represents about one-tenth of the extent of the dykes which needed repair, and the remainder of the work is far from being so well advanced. Nevertheless, it is reported that four hundred thousand Men are at work under the direction of the Flood Relief Commission, and, if sufficient funds can be obtained to supply the workers with food and a minimuos of other necessities, it is believed that the bulk of the work can be carried out in time.
The difliculties of obtaining the necessary funds are so great that an Appeal Committee has now been formed in this country under the chairmanship of Lieut.-General Sir George Macdonogh, K.C.B., and the patronage of the Arch - bishops of Canterbury and York, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, the President of the Free Church Council, and the Lord Mayor of London.
Funds so' far received by the Committee have been allocated by Sir John Hope Simpson, the Director-General of the Relief Commission in Shanghai, to the relief of acute famine conditions in North Anhwei, the least accessible part of the flooded area, where local resources gave out at the beginning of this year.
Contributhms of any amount are urgently needed and will be most gratefully accepted by the Chinese Flood Relief Committee at 2 Eaton Gate, London, S.W. 1. Thanks to the generosity of a few donors, no administration expenses will be charged to the fund, the whole of which will be remitted to Sir John Hope Simpson.—I am, Sir, tke., F. B. BOURDILLON, London, Joint lion. Treasurer.
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