EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY

Southland Times, Issue 24011, 29 December 1939, Page 5

EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY

THOUSANDS LOSE LIVES TOWN COMPLETELY DESTROYED SHOCKS RECORDED OVER EUROPE (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Reci December 28, 6.30 p.m.) ANKARA, December 27. Thousands of persons are reported to have been killed and whole villages destroyed throughout Anatolia by an earthquake. Seven violent shocks were felt. According to latest reports the town of Erzindjan, with,a population of 25,000, was completely destroyed and 300 persons are reported to have perished. Tents and warm clothing are being rushed to the stricken region. Deputies offered to contribute 40,000 Turkish pound's to assist the homeless, but the Prime Minister stated that a Government grant is being made as soon as the extent of the damage has been ascertained. An unofficial estimate of the total death roll is over 8000.

Seismographic registrations throughout Europe show the extent and force of the earthquake, the results of which were fatally manifested in Anatolia and Morocco. Seven successive shocks between 2 and 5 a.m. are reported to have destroyed or damaged Samsun, Yozgat, Ordu, Tokat, Sivas, Refahiye and Amasya. More than 10,000 persons are dead, but the interruption of communications precludes an accurate estimate of the dead. Thousands fled to the open country, where they are camping in a driving blizzard and bitter cold. The Government supplied medical aid, with the Minister of the Interior directing operations. The recording instruments were shattered at Neuchatel (Switzerland), Faenza (Italy) and Coimbra (Portugal), where the shocks were the most violent ever recorded.

“Post office collapsing” was a dramatic unfinished telegram from an unknown post office employee at Tokat before dying at his post., He gave Istanbul the first news of the earthquake, which razed villages in an area of 4000 square miles and greatly damaged many towns. A message from Tangier states that .the earthquake there killed many persons and destroyed a store, a bank and other buildings. Considerable earthquake shocks were felt at Los Angeles at 2.29 p.m. today, the epicentre being 40 to 50 miles distant, states a message from New York. The damage is negligible. Shocks were also felt at San Salvador at 5.55 a.m. today and on the Nicaraguan Pacific coast at 7 a.m. yesterday. »

EARTHQUAKE RECORDED AT WELLINGTON

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 28.

The seismographs at the Dominion Observatory started recording a big quake at 12.18 p.m. yesterday. There were large movements but the record was a very confused one and, as yet, it i not possible to decipher much from it. The movements lasted between three and four hours.

CONTRABAND GOODS INTERCEPTED TOTAL OF 6824 TONS FOR LAST WEEK

(British Official Wireless)

(Received November 28, 6.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, December 27.

During the week ended December 23 the British contraband control intercepted 6824 tons of contraband goods suspected of being destined for Germany. This total included 4568 tons of petroleum and allied products, 660 tons, of cotton, 614 tons of foodstuffs and beverages, 214 tons of fibre, 212 tons of tin, 105 tons of rubber and quantities of non-metallic products, oil and fats, cereals, wool, gums and resins, hides and skins and timber. The French contraband control examined 16 vessels during the week ended December 24 and seized 40,000 tons. INDIAN CONTINGENT IN FRANCE SPECIAL COMMISSARIAT ARRANGEMENTS LONDON, December 27. The first Indian contingent, entirely consisting of Moslems with their own priests, cooks, water-carriers and sweepers, landed in France under the leadership of British and Indian officers. They will wear the Indian winter kit, which the authorities are supplementing. The officers are buying livestock, mostly goat's, which must be ceremonially slain. These will supplement the special food, including rice, lentils, flour and other ingredients of curries. The British commissariat will supply tea, sugar and vegetables. The transport includes a number of mules. The men will be dispersed in small units in forward areas. They will be housed in Nissen huts and will be subject to Indian military law.

NAZI CLAIM ABOUT ARK ROYAL

DENIAL BY GERMAN RADIO STATION

LONDON, December 27.

The German radio stations, in at last referring to the presence of the Ark Royal in South American waters, state that Germany had never claimed that she had sunk the Ark Royal, but had merely asked the question, “Where is the Ark Royal?” The announcer added that no news was given out in Germany until it was proved to be true. Commenting on this last night, the Daventry radio remarked that, in spite r-f this strict regard for the truth, the German announcer had apparently ,;..„jned that repeated claims had been made that the Ark Royal was sunk. One broadcast from Baden stated: “It is now clearly established that the Ark Royal is destroyed,” and had given picturesque details of its last moments.