Nearly 600,000 Homeless

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 23, 28 January 1937, Page 7

Nearly 600,000 Homeless

Greatest National Emergency Since

World War

American Towns Like Great Cities of the Dead

Flood Devastation Grows in Magnitude

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. .Received Wednesday, 9.10 p.m. ■ NEW YORK, Jan. 27. The New York Times sent a reporter in an aeroplane which flew over 400 miles of flood country in eight States. He says:— “Louisville is like a new Atlantic of dark brown water as high as the eaves of the houses in three-fourths of the city area. “Cincinnati except in a few high spots seem planted in a chocolate sea. At Evansville, Indiana, where the river is normally a mile wide, it is 15 to 20 miles across. “In southern Indiana there is water as far as the eye can reach with the ice-capped hills only protruding. There was no sign on the hills of cattle or sheep which must have been drowned when the flood swept mile after mile of pastures. “Everywhere the sun glinted on great stretches of water. There was little sign of life. Just a few boats; no smoke from factory or house chimneys. The towns like great cities of the dead.” A summary by States is as follows; Kentucky: 300,000 homeless; four major cities affected. Ohio: 103,000 homeless; two major cities affected. Indiana: 70,000 homeless; four major cities all in process of evacuation. Tennessee: 15,000 homeless ; numerous small cities affected; levees weakening and expected to break at many points; Mississippi river rising rapidly. Arkansas: 20,000 homeless; eastern section under martial law; evacuation of 50,000 under way. Missouri: 15,000 homeless; scores believed trapped and probably drowned due to the breaking of levees. Illinois: 25,000 homeless; eight small cities affected. West Virginia: 40,000 homeless; four major cities affected; water covers more than half the area and all cities along the Ohio river shore. Pennsylvania: Conditions improving; rivers fcSing.