The Italian Earthquake.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 765, 30 December 1908, Page 2

The Italian Earthquake.

The year is ending sadly for Italy, as will be seen by to-day's cablegrams reporting the disastrous earthquakes. The problem of the cause of earthquakes continues to exercise the minds of geologists and other savants, but the problem of the New Year season with Italians is not tho cause of the latest quake, but its disastrous effect. They are familiar with the eruptions of Vesuvius, and they know the whole history of the destruction of the great cities within their own borders, notably Herculaneuni and Pompeii ; but that is very ancient history. Y-esterday's catastrophe touches them at once^ — its realism is as vivid as an experience of the latest movement can be. The Calabrians should bo earthquakeproof, for no fewer than twenty-nine destructive quakes bave occurred along that portion of Italy since 1602. But all things of the past are forgotten in those of the immediate present. The King is moved to compassion and action; the Pope, despite his age and infirmity, desires to show his sympathy by moving in and out amongst his own people — a most unusual proceeding for a prisoner of the Vatican ; Caruso cables £500 from New York as a proof of his sorrow for his fellow Italians; Britain'snvarships from the Mediterranean Fleet steam at once to the scene of the disaster to render first aid; and all the civilised world will be sending in New Year gifts to solace, comfort, feed, and help those who at this tim© ar© so much in need of help and sympathy.