DEVASTATED FRANCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 31 May 1919, Page 3

DEVASTATED FRANCE.

ESTIMATED TOTAL LOSS. By Telegraph—Press Assn,—Copyright. (Received May 31, 8.50 a.m.) PARIS, May 18. It is authoritatively estimated that the material damage done in the French devastated areas is as follows: 800 millions sterling for agricultural depreciation, also 850 millions for damaged and destroyed buildings, and 400 millions for loss of furniture. Many villages cannot be re-built owing to changes of the subsoil and the presence of explosives and soldiera’ bodies. Fifty thousand acres of arable land will never again be tillable. The depreciation due to trench-making is 53 millions; depreciation in the back areas due to the overgrowth of weeds and grass is 50 mil-lions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.