FEARFUL TOLL OF FRENCH DISASTER

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 10322, 8 March 1930, Page 3

FEARFUL TOLL OF FRENCH DISASTER

Deaths Estimated at Seven Hundred. SPLENDID RESCUE WORK. Paris, March 6 Flood devastation continues throughout the south-west. It is estimated tha here are 700 dead. A family of seven was found dead betimated that there are 700 dead, A peasant, seeing his house collapse, whipped out a revolver and committed suicide before the horrified spectators could prevent him. A husband and wife were clinging to the branches of a tree together when their strength failed and they dropped in the flood. The population eulogise the Senegalese soldiers, who are doing magnificent rescuing work, some remaining for 3 6 hours in the chilly waters. Two German youths are credited with saving more than 100. A group of cavalrymen set out to rescue some screaming children who were marooned on a diminishing island but met with,, disaster. Three horses and their riders were drowned. Rugby, March 6 The King has sent the following . telegram to the French Px-esident;— ] “I have learned with the deepest concern of the disastrous inundations | which have desolated such wide areas * Jn the south and south-west of France, i and hasten to express to you, Mon-j sieur le President, my profound sym- j pathy with the victims, and particu- : larly with those who have suffered bereavement through the deplorable I loss of life which this calamity has . caused.” i The British Ambassador in Paris j has also conveyed the deep sympathy of the British Government to the ! French Government. I