WAKE OF HURRICANE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 58, 18 September 1928, Page 11

WAKE OF HURRICANE

PORTO RICO'S PLIGHT GOVERNOR'S S.O.S. CALL 'lulteO Press Association—By Electric vele graph- Copyright. vuatrailap Vms> Assdi-iatiuu t:im«i Servl. WASHINGTON, 16th September. Half tho population of Porto Rico are homeless. The extent of the damage resulting from the hurricane is increased in reports received on Sunday by the Government. . The Governor of Porto Rico, Mr. H. M. Towncr, in a cable message pleading for food and clothing for the sufferers, said that great help was needed, declaring that the situation wn so terrible as to demand immediate action. The leading citizens have petitioned the Governor to impose martial law throughout the island, to requisition all food supplies, and draft all able-bodied men for relief work. More than 250 persons were actually reported dead up to G o'clock on Sunday night in l.me of the soveuty-soven towns as a result of tho hurricane. More than 70 per cent, of the island's population live in rural sections, from which it may be weeks before accurate reports are received. A careful check of the damage has resulted in a total estimate of scventy-iivo million dollars, with many items not listed, which it is believed will increase it to a hundred -million. The estimated losses include: Coffee crop, 10 million dollars; coffee trees, 10 millions; sugar cane crop, 20 millions; sugar centrals, live millions; tobacco, live millions; citrus crop, five millions; railway and power, three millions; telephone and telegraph, two millions.