THE EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9334, 2 January 1909, Page 5

THE EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY.

RELIEF OF THE AFFECTED. United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. / Rome, January 1. ' "For eleven miles scuth of Reggio the face of the country has been completely altered. Large tracts are under .water and everywhere there • are havoc and destruction. The Italian Government is sending emigrant vessels to Reggio.and Mes-. aiaa to serve as temporary hospitals or remove survivors elsewhere. Princesses and noble ladies are, volunteering to nurse the injured; they are also adopting orphans. The Italian Parliament will shortly he- convoked to vote extraordinary taxation for the nest five years. There is to be an increase in railway rates so as to exempt affected districts from taxation. The drinking water has become contaminated in many places. , Eighteen districts in Calabria have bean completely destroyed. The director of the Observatory at Catania etsimates the killed ai 300,000. Clouds of carrion birds are devouring the corpses in the streets at Reggio and the neighbouring village. No damage has been done at Taormina, the popular health resort. King Victor Emmanuel has declared that Britain’s prompt response shows the brotherhood of two nations. King Emmanuel is helping to direct the rescue work at Messina. ~ Queen Helena is visiting the injured aboard the ships in the harbour. She herself rescued a child from the ruins. It is reported at Naples that sailors of the Russian warship Makaroff discovered in the ruins of Messina twenty millions franc supposed to belong to the ruined branch building of the Bank of Italy. The sailors took the treasure to the commander of their ship. People are frantic to go to search for their relations, and steamer captains are refusing £SO for the passage from Naples to Sicilian ports. Hundreds of doctors and nurses ate hurrying to the spot.

NAVIGATION DANGERS

London, December 31

Lloyds ask the Admiralty to warn merchantmen that the earthquake has caused new risks to navigation in the vicinity of the“ Straits of Messina.

The R.M.S. Mopltan, from Australia to London, cleared the Straits 21 hours before the disaster. Paris, January 1.

The French Government has opened a national subscription for the earthquake sufferers. President Fallieres subscribing £IOOO. New York, January 1.

The American public are subscribing most generously, the Steel Trust having given £SOOO, the Standard Oil Trust £2OOO, and the Red Cross Society has remitted to Italy the £IO,OOO remaining from the San Francisco relief fund.

The United States supply ship Celtic, with a million ahd a half pounds of navy rations, intended for the battle fleet, is sailing from New York for Messina.

President Roosevelt is expected to ask Congress to pass a liberal 1 relief vote.

London, January 1

King Edward has sent 500 guineas to the Lord Mayor’s fund, and the Prince of Wales and Queen Alexandra 350 guineas each. The . English fund already amounts to £IOO,OOO.

TERRIBLE SCENES. Rome, January 1. A ifew dozen of the survivors fought with knives in the ruins of the Custom House at fMessina for provisions. Several throats were cut in the struggle for a few handfuls of beans. The extraordinary boldness and effrontery of the lowest of the roughs are causing great alarm. There is still a terrible lack of food, and the supply of medical necessaries”and wood is wanted for building shelters. The docks and harbour works at Mesisna have .sunk to the level of the sea. The effects of the seismic wave have been felt from Termini Imeresi to Syracuse. A SCIENTIST’S EXPLANATION. Rome, December 31. Professor Sness, the celebrated Austrian geologist states the theatre of the catastrophe is a spot where the earth is sinking in disc like form. When the sinking process is complete the hills of Soylla and a great part of the Peloritan range, near Messina, will he below water. The Straits of Messina will be widened, and only a fragment of the Eastern Sicilian bills will project from the sea. „ Professor Sness adds: “We ar" witnessing a collapse of the terrestrial globe that began long ago. The shortness of human life allows ns to be of good cheer.” FURTHER SHOOKS. , Rome, January 1. Two severe shocks were experienced at Messina yesterday. The crew Of the Russian warship Makaroff saved a thousand lives at Messina. \ Thousands, of half'naked men,

women and children are wandering in the deep mud along the shore. Many little children have been frozen to death, and a thousand men arefstill needed to extricate the still living victims from under the mins.

AUSTRALIAN SUBSCRIPTIONS. Sydney, January 1. This morning the civic beads of the various cities of the Commonwealth opened earthquake funds. NOTES FROM ROME. NARROW ESCAPE OF KING OP ITALY. Received January 3, 8.17 a.m. Rome, January 1. Two priests are the only survivors at Scylla, they were in the vault of a church which alone withstood the shocks.

The captain of the steamer Umbric saw famished survivors at Reggio killing and eating dogs. The British Military Attache, at Rome, has proceeded to Messina to intercept the steamers Ophir and Bremen- and request them to give assistance.

The American ship Celtic brings 33,000 dollars worth of clothing, shoes, tents and other goods.

The Italian and other naval authorities are organising relief.

When aft ; er bping at Reggio King Emmanuel revisited Messina, a building of five stories fell at his feet. Captains report that the, bed of the sea in the Straits of Messina has risen ten feet. Ottawa, January 1.

The Canadian Government is granting £30,000 for the relief fund. Paris, January 1. The French relief fund totals £BOOO.

Rome, January 1

The first great shock of earthquake lasted 37 seconds and was- followed by four tidal waves. Deputy Fulci lay injured in a mined cellar for 15 hours and then was suffocated. His brother heard his cries but was unable to relieve-him.