RAVAGES AT SAMOA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16415, 8 January 1919, Page 6

RAVAGES AT SAMOA.

APPALLING SCENES. (press association telboram.) AUCKLAND, January 7. Further particulars of the ravages of influonza at the Islands wero brought by the 6toamer Taluno, which returned to Auckland early this morning. The pestilence spread with alarming rapidity, and in a very short space of time had a strong hold throughout the whole of the islands. PITIABLE PLIGHT OF NATIVES Ono of the placos where tho ravages of tho epidemic were oarly apparent was tho populous village of Vaimoso. At this village an appalling state of affairs was discovered. Every house was closed up with mats, and insido in tho gloom the suffering of the inmates was pitiable to behold. Some lay writhing on tho ground; some wore found covered with mats, sweltering in agony beneath the covering; while others lay in silence. I-lore and there a sheet or tapa cloth covered a form rosumbent ana still, indicating only too well that tho foil disease had finished its work. From then on the epidemio spread like wildfire. The oil being Rtricken with the disease, retired to tlneir homos to die. It was no uncommon sight, a passenger stated, to enter a house which was closed down, all round, and find tho whole of the inmates Iving dead. In somo cases several of the occuoants had died somo days previously, and those who survived were found clustered rotind the dead. In many of the houses entered tho occupants wore past all holp, and tho walls were closed to await tho arrival of tho dead-cart which passed through the streets, stopping at tho huts to pick up the dead. i SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS. 1 Bod as tho conditions wero here, they wero worse in other placos, and itwns ri such pltfees that medical attention was most urgently required. Owing to tho fact that only four doctors were in n'ttendance in the wholo group, it wns found utterly impossible to adequately cope with the epidemic, which had by now gained ft strong hold throughout tho islands. Although plonty of drugs wero available, great difficulty was experienced in dispensing them, and in tho majority of cases it was found that they would not bo required, the sufferors then being past all medical aid. GREAT WORK OF N.Z. GARRISON. Dr. Appleby paid a tribute to the work of the New Zealand garrison, who, although suffering severely from tho epidemic, themselves, rendered heroic servico in tending the sick and assisting with the burials. At first the greater part of tho garrison, ten of whom succumbed, were incapacitated through illness, but all who Were able caino forward as volunteers, nnd one and all—dfflcers and men alike—inspired by the splendid example of the officer commanding (Captain Richardson), worked with a will which, is beyond all praise. In a situation where practically every Native in tho locality was sick and helpless, it was found n&ies&ary not only to provide the more necessitous with food, but to take it to thoir homes. Every morning a I4rg6 quantity of rice was boiled and soup prepared at tho barracks, and theii distributed bv motor-cnr or oilier conveyance where most needed. Besides this relief in the immediate neighbourhood, boat-loads of foodstuffs were sent around the coast and across the Straits to Manono, Apolimft, and Savaii. Had it not bnon for this belief work, it is certain that large numbers of tho afflicted would have perished from sheer Starvation, BURIAL OF THE DEAD. A more gruesome but equally important task devolving upon the staff working at tho barracks was the collection of the dead, for in the circumstances, where nearly all tli6 natives were helpless (/ it was found impossible foe them to do what was needed themselves. From' first to last the interments at Vrtimea totalled 400, the heaviest toll for any ftinglo day being oit November 23rd, when over 70 burials took place. In tho Tongan Group alono the death-rate is stated at between 1500 and 2000. At S«"ioa the death roll was stated to bo 8000. When the Tnlune left, Suva was nraeticallv a clean port, while over the suironnd'ng inlands the epidemic had subsided nnd conditions were rapidlv becoming normal. A sftd feature of the visitation is <ho Inr-re of orphaned nnd homeless children. RAVAGES TN AMERICA. (Br CnfcV—PrMfl Assorin'ion.— Convriplit * (Australian and N.&. Ch-M* Association.) NEW YORK, January C. During 1918, influenza carried oft 110,000 Americans in 46 large cities.