THE GREAT DROUGHT FAMINE IN CHINA This is not news to most of us, nor is it anything which will add to our knowledge. Although it may strengthen our desire to help China to become a better country to live in. Doubtless, most of us have learned through the general press, that a vast area in the northern part of China, is now afflicted with a most desperate famine that ever occurred in China's history, and that it is rather heart-breaking to know that millions of our beloved countrymen are facing death of starvation. However, I embrace this opportunity to re-inform the Chinese students in this country some of the striking news which I received from China about the horror of famine and to suggest that every Chinese student in this country ought to do his or her part to help the millions of famine sufferers in order that they may live on. The total famine area of the five provinces, Chihli, Shantung, Shansi, Shensi and Honan, is equal to the total area of all these States: California, Oregon, Washington, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New Hampshire. The number of famine sufferers in these five porvinces is five times the total population of all the above mentioned States. These facts alone ought to convince that the help required is indeed tremendous. In those famine districts, once were full of vegetation, even every tiniest patch of land was under cultivation. But there is nothing growing now. It is all bare and not an inch of ground either on the terraced hillsides or on the great plains that does not look as though it had been crumbled and smoothed into fitness for seedtime. Whether or not these places will be planted depends on whether or not it rains this year. If not, it means another year of famine. Let us now see some of the desparate conditions which the unfortunate people of the famine districts are now facing. Report submitted by the investigating committee, sent out by the Chinese Foreign Relief Committee of Shanghai, states that at least 25,000,000 people are affected by this great drought famine. Food has become so exhausted that roots, grasses, leaves and barks are powdered and made in form of cake to take its place. The report states further that when the famine sufferers consumed this substitution of food for about a month, they are then affected by that terrible diseasedysentery, and finally death as the result. Furthermore, the worst sufferers are the women and the children. In many villages, the adults who dread the slow death of starvation committed suicide. The mothers are selling their babies at the price of three copper cents each, or about one and one half cents in American money, and there are mothers who could not sell their babies, they kill them rather than to see them slowly starve to death-and it is to be remembered that Chinese mothers are just like other mothers. I do not wish to dwell long in telling these dreadful details, for fear of breaking the nervous strength, but must hurry on now to see what we can do to help those millions of famine destitutes. Hundreds of millions of dollars must be raised to the threatening harvest of death among the million of famine-striken men, women and children who have struggled through a three-year drought. The present crisis will hold until late this summer, when the rice and wheat crops of China will be ready for distribution. If we act now it may save millions of human lives. We are living in this country of plenty-a nation of wealth and a land full of "milk and honey." Naturally we are looking for her people to help. As a matter of fact all white peoples like the Chinese, though nobody has ever quite put a finger on the peculiarly Chinese characteristic or quality which inspires this universal regard. Specifically, the Americans feel for the Chinese a great sympathy which is wholly spontaneous and related to absolutely nothing in the nature of self-interest. With these facts borne in mind, it will not be disappointed when we appeal to the Americans for help. It remains, therefore, for us to do our part. We come to this country with a supreme purpose of learning something which will be of service to our country. I suggest that we do something to help our people now. Let every Chinese student club in the United States organize a famine relief committee, appoint speakers to speak at churches and other organized bodies; when possible stage a play and collect admission; collecting funds through selling tickets for ball games. In these and many other ways we can help raising funds for the famine-stricken millions. I am very glad to hear that many of our students have already done much for the relief, but I believe that a great deal can still be accomplished in bringing relief to the enormous number of famine sufferers in North China. RICHARD T. DANG, Executive Secretary of the Chinese Famine Relief Committee at San Francisco, Calif. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, EIGHT SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES ANN ARBOR, COLLEGE OF LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND THE ARTS John R. Effinger, Dean Full literary and scientific courses-Higher commercial courses, including railway administration and insurance-Courses in forestry and landscape design-All courses open to professional students on approval of Faculty. COLLEGES OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE Mortimer E. Cooley, Dean Complete courses in civil, mechanical, electrical, naval and chemical engineering Architecture and architectural engineering-Highway engineering-Workshop, experimental and field practice-Mechanical, physical, electrical and chemical laboratories-Central heating and lighting plants adapted for instruction. MEDICAL SCHOOL V. C. Vaughan, Dean Four years' graded course-Highest standard for all work-Modern laboratories-Ample clinical facilities-Bedside instruction in hospital, entirely under University control, a special feature. Henry M. Bates, Dean LAW SCHOOL Henry Kraemer, Dean Two, three and four years' courses-Ample laboratory facilities-Training for prescription service, manufacturing pharmacy, industrial chemistry, and for the work of the analyst. HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOL W. B. Hinsdale, Dean Four years' course-Fully equipped hospital, entirely under University control-Special attention given to materia medica and scientific prescribing-Twenty hours' weekly clinical instruction. COLLEGE OF DENTAL SURGERY Marcus L. Ward, Dean Four years' course-Ample laboratories, clinical rooms, library and lecture rooms-Clinical material in excess of needs. GRADUATE SCHOOL Graduate courses in all departments-Special higher professional degrees. SUMMER SESSION Alfred H. Lloyd, Dean courses leading to the E. H. Kraus, Dean A regular session of the University affording credit toward degrees. More than 275 courses in arts, engineering, medicine, law, pharmacy and library methods. COSMOPOLITAN STUDENT COMMUNITY-OVER FIFTY CHINESE STUDENTS IN RESIDENCE 1919-1920-SPECIAL FACULTY ADVISER FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS-SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR ORIENTAL WOMEN. THE COSMOPOLITAN CLUB, for foreign students, offers lectures and facilities for the study of international problems as well as many attractive social features. For copy of CATALOG, SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS, or INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION, address, SHIRLEY W. SMITH, Secretary, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. |