SCIENTISTS AND EARTHQUAKES

Evening Star, Issue 19723, 25 November 1927, Page 2

SCIENTISTS AND EARTHQUAKES

A startling theory which suggests that the earth is cracking is advanced by scientists as a reason for the many recent earthquakes (says the ‘Westminster Gazette’). Recent-geological observations show that the line of these earthquakes across tho face of the globe, since tho San Francisco disaster in 1906, is continuous. It stretches across the Atlantic, through midEurope, Turkestan, and on to Japan. The possible existence of a gigantic fault line, or cleavage, due to shrinkage following the gradual cooling clown of the earth’s crust, has been interesting scientists for some time (adds the ‘Westminster Gazette ’), and at last a definite theory, substantiated by the proof of geological tests and observations, comes from Russia. Professor Muskayioff, director of the Russian Geological Survey and Museum at Moscow, has collated proof of a definite northward'movement of Africa, and India towards Europe and Asia, after years of research and personal investigation on exploring expeditions, and has accepted an invitation to visit London this year to deliver an address to British geologists under the auspices of the Geological Society. Referring to bis 400 geological'research and inapmaking expeditions, tho newspaper adds that lie has come to the conclusion that tho explanation of the recent “epidemic” of serious earthquakes, earth tremors, and tidal waves is the gradual “ sliding ” of Africa and India northwards. The basis of Professor Mnsknytoff’s investigations is obtained from the record of recent great earthquakes. The San Francisco disaster of 1906, tho catastrophe at Messina, in Sicily, the destructive shocks at Loninakan, Armenia, this vear, tremors in the Crimea within the last few months, and the most recent earth movements surrounding Samarkand, in Turkestan, link up the one with Japan, where a typhoon, originating, it is thought, from a submarine earthquake, has just occurred. These complete a general earth-circling fault. Professor MuskaytofF formed his opinion of a northward movement of India more than a year ago, and went out at once on an exploring expedition into Turkestan to prove his theory. “ 1 found old rock formations over new ones,” ho told a representative of the British United Press in Moscow. Two months ago, ns a result of his study of the earth formations in Turkestan, ho predicted that a serious earth tremor must occur within an area of 125 miles long and three-quarters of a mile broad. Within 50 days of his prediction nearly 100 people were killed and scores of villages were demolished by an earthquake within this area. New York, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Moscow, and other groat cities of the world lie far enough off the lino to bo out of danger, lie says, but they may in the near future feet earthquake tremors which will not attain catastrophic violence.