Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-29
EU ROPE
FREEZES
Worst { torn in Years
Grips Continent
Cold Causes Much Suffer
ing and heath
All Traffic Suspended and Communi-
cation Interrupted - Relief
Trains Buried and
Lost In Snow
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
LONDON, Dec. est is many years
since central Europe generally has suf-
fered so severely from an arctic vista
tion as it has this Christmas week.
The continuing snowfall has created
practically an unprecedented situation,
the worst known in thirty years in
Great Britain, and the conditions exist
ing here apparently are general
throughC'' Europe.
From France, Belgium, Switzerland,
Germany and Austria Hungary the
same tale is reported of heavy snow
storms, interruption of vehicular, tele-
graphic and railroad communication,
loss of life and general discomfort.
While Great Britain as rule escapes
wintry weather, she has suffered this
year to an almost unprecedented de-
gree.
According to reports tonight from
northern points, the storm is growing
worse. The heavy snow storms which
began several days ago continue. They
are accompanied by violent gales and
even thunder storms in some places,
and have resulted in a serious railroad
accident near Arbroath, Scotland, in
which about fifty persons were killed
or suffered serious injuries.
Railroad traffic in the northern part
of England, especially in Scotland, is
becoming completely tied up. Large
towns like Edinburgh, Dundee and
Perth are almost isolated. The tele-
nh 1ffa Il 1t,t,x
would be completely useless but for the
extension in recent years of the under
ground wires. The snow storms con-
tinue with equal severity in northern
Wales and in Ireland.
None of the trains that left London
Thursday over the Midland railway has
reached Edinburgh, while other trains
are snowbound and passengers are suf-
4feriHg from cold and hunger. ta &.
Relief Trains Snowbound
| Relief trains are being imbedded in
the snow, and the railroad companies
have issued official notices that it is
impossible to guarantee traffic on
schedule time so far as Scotland is con-
cerned. There has not yet been serious
trouble in central and southern Eng
land.
The gales have caused many minor
casualties along the coasts. Among the
worst sea disasters thus far reported is
the wreck of the Japanese liner Ava
Maru, through the swapping of her an
chor cable. No lives were lost but the
steamer, which is on the rocks off Red
Car, threatens to become a total loss.
In London snow continues to fall at
intervals and is bringing much dis
comfort besides involving the authori-
ties in heavy expenses to clear it away,
Londoners who live in the suburbs are
indulging in the unusual pastime of to-
bogganing.
In the mountain districts of France
there is much suffering from the heavy
fall of snow and consequent floods are
reported from the highlands of Ar
dennes.
In Belgium drift ice is forming on the
Scheldt and other large rivers and all
communication with points in the Her
toGen forest is at a standstill.
In Switzerland the weather is of un-
usual severity. The uplands already
are under six feet of snow and some
lated This state of affairs is draw
ing renewed attention to proposed
measures to keep the Swiss passes open
all the year through. Thus far the
government has declined to contem-
plate doing this because of the heavy
/ expense.
l. Austria and Hungary are in the grasp
of the wintry weather.
Traffic on some of the railroads in
Galicia has been suspended.
In Budapest snow has put an end to
street travel of all kinds on wheels.
Germany reports the heaviest general
snowfall in many years and railroad
traffic is considerably disturbed.