Men Drowned Like Rats

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 161, 28 September 1927, Page 1

Men Drowned Like Rats

WORKERS ON RELIEF TRAIN Discistrous. Floods in Europe By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright. deceived 9.5 a.m. HOME, Tuesday. A RELIEF train going to flood-devastated areas broke through a bridge over the River Eisack, in the Austrian Tyrol, and crashed into the river. The mechanic and one workman were saved. The rest of the men—twenty-five in number —were drowned like rats in a trap.

r 3 death-roll is increasing. Austrian troops are using pontoons to reroe villagers from their housetops, d-here ties' have been marooned two Geneva correspondent of “The Times" says reports of disastrous floods are being received from all directions and are creating the greatest uneasiness. There is a gap I,oooft sritle in one dam through which the Rhine is overflowing. The villages throughout an enormous area ar<! submerged. Many people are missing, including a squad ,( flrebrigadesmen. who were sent out to assist isolated settlers. The level of Lake Constance has risen 16ft. The Government of Liech-

enstein, on the border of Switzerland and Austria, has appealed for help and troops have been sent from Switzerland. Almost all the services on the branch railways in Carinthia and the Tyrol, Austria, have ceased owing to the destruction of bridges. It is feared there have been numerous cases of drowning. Eight members of one family took refuge on the roof of their house, which suddenly collapsed, and all were lost. A wind like a hurricane blew throughout last night while the floods were at their highest. Those who were fortunate enough to escape spent the night on the hills without shelter. The Rhine Valley is inundated for a distance of 100 miles.—A. and N'.Z.