TIDAL WAVE AND HAVOC

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 247, 9 January 1928, Page 1

TIDAL WAVE AND HAVOC

HUTS SWEPT TO SEA TOWER MOATS FILLED Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Sunday. The flood fortunately did not invade the underground railway, but trams were brought to a standstill. In Lambeth and adjoining districts, in whole streets of houses, the water rose halfway up the stairs. Probably the worst damage from a financial viewpoint was below Blackfriars, where warehouse basements were filled. The damage will not be known until the water is pumped out.

Waves swept over the banks outside the Tower of London and filled the ancient moats. The Tower looks like its old self after centuries. Generally the water is 15 feet deep, and is 20 feet wide, upon the Guard’s drill-

Tower of London ground. A tidal wave wrought havoc on the East Coast, and swept whole colonies of beach huts to sea, between Frinton. Walton and Clacton. It festooned the village of Salcot with seaweed, marooned Brightlingsea and drove residents to the upper storeys of their houses. It damaged wharves at Strood, Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham. The many victims of the Thames flood include hundreds of owners of valuable motor-cars In inundated Putney garages, who were amazed to find their insurances void, the companies contending that the flood was an act of God. The important places flooded Include Woolwich Arsenal, Billingsgate Market, and the office of the Ministry of Pensions, Kew. This entails a delay in paying exservicemen pensioners, but the British Legion is attending to cases of necessity. The Salvation Army is distributing food in the poorer areas, and has established kitchens. The Mayor of Lambeth, who opened a fund, states that thousands of people who were living in basements virtually lost everything. A large number of societies responded to the appeal for immediate relief. Everybody is assured of beds and meals. Veterinary surgeons are treating gratis hundreds of cats, dogs, and poultry. Many houses are condemned

in the Horseferry Road area as dangerous. ALL PRECAUTIONS Every possible precaution has been taken to deal with a repetition of the flood. All basements and ground floors in the danger zones hare been evacuated. The police patrolled the Embankment shelters, and food was provided for the temporarily homeless. Several relief funds have been opened. At midnight large crowds of sightseers from theatres and parties assembled. on the Embankment. The river was high, but high water was safely passed without floods recurring anywhere. Tueir Majesties the King and Queen have sent a telegram to the Mayor of Westminster, sympathising with the relatives of the flood victims The King is contributing £IOO, and the Queen £SO, to the relief fund.—A. and N.Z.-Sun.