ITALIAN DISASTER

Hawera Star, Volume L, 26 July 1930, Page 5

ITALIAN DISASTER

heathroll now 2200 CYCLONE ADDS TO HORROR PITTEUL ’SPECTACLE'S (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright). .ROME. Jully 2:5. The oarthlqunite dcath-rol 1 ! is ait present '21200. It is feared It away reach 3000. Treviso Venezia estimated fthiat 20 persons were killed as ithe result of a cyclone which swept over the surrounding district for '25 miles. Many were injured. A number of houses col--I'aJpsed. iCriminals at Salerno Pris'on: and elsewhere when: released assisted' the soldiers land forced’ their way into the wrecked) houses iu order to rescue the imprisoned 'inmates l instead 1 of attempting ito escape. 'Curiously enough the army disciplinary corps happened to ho stationed 1 at Melifi. The so-called had hoys of the army redeemed themselves with their ■tireless work and have had no sleep since midnight' 'on Tuesday. The’ commander announces that he will recommend the King to pardon them all. The work o : f refliief is being facilitated hv aeroplanes flying low over the devastated icountrylside and dropping pared s of food. The magnitude! of the disaster ssi increased by the peculiar construction of the towns built on 'hilltops to protect, them from mlaraudcrs in the old days. Houses were subsequently built so close together that the collapse of one entailed 'the collapse of itls neighbours. iSignor Mussolini has refused to accept subscriptions, .saying the State -will help. Relief work continues, on an amazing selalc. The King will visit, the districts to-night. The Pozzuola volcano, the 'companion of Vesuvius, is active. Vesuvius is also erupting, causing fears of further disaster.

The centre of the disaster is believed tb he the supposed extinct volcano Monte Vultur, situated in Avelllino, which province has suffered thus far 1392 dead and 2070 injured. 'Survivors declare that during the ’quake a great flame lit up t’ho summit udeormpanied by subterranean rumblings.

Four hundred of the 2600 'inhabitants of ViOJai Nova, are dead. The Mayor and his -family were killed. A pitiful spectacle was .presented in the line's of bodies laid out awa-iting removal. One of the worst tragedies occurred at the orphanage, where l'l little children are dicta d. The Duchess of Aosta visited Villa Nova and condoled with the survivors. She placed lan ivory cross on the breast of a giriL who w,a.s 'still half-buried and knelt in prayer. A sfcateiment issued in Rome by the Italian Under-'Secrdtary, Signor Loom, slays that in the province off AveiUinio, where 1392 persons are reported killed, damage bin's Ibeoin caused in. 30 communes.

EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY

BRITAIN- NFNTIS CON.DOI.EMCBS

LONDON, July 25.

The Earthquake ha® assumed the proportions of a na'tioma'i 'catastrophe a's further details have been received from the eight 'terror-stricken provinces which were transformed within la minute from one of the most productive region® in Italy to a scene of ruin, desolation and horror, states' the Rome correspondent of “The 'limes.” Miles off highways have been rendered impassable by huge fissures or masses of debris.

The Prime Minister (Mr Ramsay MacDonlald) has dispatched the follow ing telegram to! Signor Mussolini: “Please accept this expression of niv deep personal sympathy with yourself, with the Italian people and particularly with the sufferers and the bereaved.'”

The sympathy of the British 'Government Was conveyed in a telegram sent to the Italian ’Government by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr Arthur Henderson), a® follows: “His Majelsty’s 'Government ha's learnt with horror of the earthquake in Southern Italy and desires to press it's deep sympathy with the Italian Government and people, It begs that the expression: off its condolence may be conveyed! to the relatives off the victims of this t errible . (calamity. ’ ’