SERIOUS BROUGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1921, Page 5

SERIOUS BROUGHT.

IN WESTERN EUROPE, DISASTER FEARED.; SEVERITY OF HEAT, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright London, July 19. Tlie most serious drought continues in Western Europe. The rivers of France and Belgium are at the lowest levels recorded fori 50 years and crops are suffering so severely that disaster is threatened. In some districts Water for household use and for cattle ia being carried miles. The mountain torrents in Switzerland are not one-third their usual volume, any many mountain slopes are bare of enow. The drought in Britain has now lasted 86 days, though there have been occasional light rainstorms in some districts. The general record, for heat and drought eclipses all recent droughts, such as that of 19*12, when the drought lasted 24 days, and in 1893, when 30 days in succession were ramless. JM&ny holiday-makers, instead of walking in the day time, are tramping through the night to avoid the heat. At least a dozen bathing fatalities have been announced to-day. It is beloved that the heat was the cause of a disastrous fire at the Hendon factory where aeroplane, varnish ft manufactured. The workers, knowing that an explosion was certain, fled, and just had time to escape before the place was blown up. The flames were 400 feet high. The damage was • £20,000. There are gorge and heather fires all over the country, including Barnes Common, where the fire brigade. has been working since Saturday. Extensive heath fires at Cannock Chase invaded the colliery districts, and smoke penet the pits, seriously interrupting work in the mines. The London water supply is seriously threatened, and the city will be rationed if the conditions continue.