THE MISSISSIPPI

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1927, Page 2

THE MISSISSIPPI

NATIONAL DISASTER. [Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] WASHINGTON, April 24. Recognition that the Mississippi flood has assumed the proportions oi a national disaster has come with the proclamation by President Coolidge, calling upon the people to contribute five million dollars to a fund for immediate rebel, and in flic despatch of .Mr Hoover to assume control of all the efforts to aid the desolated territoiy. Seven U.S.A. Government Departments—the Army, Navy, Commerce, Interstate, Commerce Commission, Coast Guard, Public Health Service and Veterans’ Bureau-—have joined with the Red Cross in .relief efforts, which, it is believed, will be the greatest in the history of disasters in tnis country.

Memphis, in Tennessee, lias been made the headquarters, Air Hoover presiding there. Memphis itself is now in imminent danger, ns the flood rolls down the river itt ;i gauge height ol 4(i feet. The crest of the flood is expected there to-morrow. A large corp of engineers, who are making efforts to save the still standing levees and water wells, declare, however, that nothing can save the entire delta region. The Mississippi River is swelling hourly, and it is gnawing ceaselessly at the levees, on which men labour night and day with sandbags. She calmly tops the hags or undercuts them, and sweeps unimpeded across the richest cotton lands *»I the nation, Hooding whole cities and overwhelming with flotsam the flimsy shacks of the back-country dwellers. Greenville, Mississippi. after its normal population bad been increased front 12.01)0 to 22.000 by refugees, has been almost completely evacuated. Navy and coast guard cutters are proceeding up the river, and they are returning loaded with refugees, whose total, its estimated l>v some sources, may number two hundred thousand. Smaller craft are scouring the rural sections and arc rescuing scores of people who are marooned on trees, housetops, levees and mounds. Aeroplanes have been despatched to Arkansas, Mississippi, to aid in the rescue work.

The rainfall over the Centre Valley, through Arkansas. Missouri, Mississippi and Alabama has continued and five tributaries of the Mississippi River, besides the main stream itself, are out of their banks.

The city of New Orleans, with virtually the entire city below the river’s level, is ultimately due to receive the full force of the downward sweep ol

the waters. A Kansas City message states that food and water shortage are reported during the week-end. Greenville is suffering most acutely, and also all the flood-swept towns in the Mississippi Valley, where nearly seventy are known to have perished.

Naval aeroplanes that are aiding in tho rescue work in Arkansas and Mississippi States, have reported that hundreds tire still isolated on levees, roofs and trees. It is feared that the crest cl the flood has not; yet been reached in Louisiana. The half a million population of New Orleans, which virtually is till below the river level, have proceeded calmly with their ordinary work. The grocers, however, have reported that heavy sales have been made in some sections, where persons are storing food in the event of emergency. The water is waist deep in Greenville. The sanitary conditions .are deplorable. owing to the failure of the sewerage svstems and the presence of ten thousand refugees, in addition to the normal population.