The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
Ruin Wrought in Italy and
Sicily Extends Over
Large Territory
Soldiers to Place Gordon Around
Wrecked Cities TO Prevent
Further Disaster
King thanks Army and Navy and
Foreign Warships for
YaIOrOuS Acts
Earthquake Raises Bed of Strait
of Messina As High As
1,4OO Feet in Places

IN ONE, Jan. 4.-king Victor
X Emmanuel has addressed an
IN order of the day TO the army
and navy. in which he says he
has again personal proof Of the hero
ism of the soldiers and sailors and
commends highly the men Of the for
eign waTships in uniting their efforts
to those of the valorous Italian Off
GERS and sailors
The entire time of the officials in
Rome is being given over to the work
Of gathering medical supplies and pro-
visions and organizing other relief for
the earthquake sufferers.
The reports of bombarding the ruins
to prevent an epidemic are considered
premature. Even after FIVE or six days
the living have been taken out of the
wreckage.
Millions in money and vaIuables and
important records, which are buried
deep. must be removed before bonn
bardment begins. The American off,
cials. headed by Major Landis, the at
tache at Rome, with the aid of so SOL
diers, are engaged in the task OF clear
ing up the ruins of the American con-
sulate at Messina, In order to recover.
IL possible. the bodies Of Consul Cheney
and his wife.
Messina Strait Raised
British naval officers have discov-
cred that the bed OF the strait OF Mes
sina has been raised many hundred
feet and as high as 1.4OO in places.
Their estimate OF the dead reaches
1000
Ambassador Griscom. with a view to
the quick transportation OF American
supplies to the earthquake zone. had
secured for this purpose the German
Lloyd steamer Bayern. He has en-
gagged the Oceania. as it was found that
the Bayern could not be made ready
as quickly as desired. and it Is ex-
pected she will sail from Naples
Wednesday.
1t Is suggested that all Americans
not heard from who were supposed to
be in the earthquake zone should be
considered safe. as probably all Ameri-
cans who have suffered have been re-
ported.
Radius of Ruin and Death
MESSINA. Jan 4--The radius OF
ruin and death extends back with de-
creasing intensity for 40 miles on the
mainland and for 80 miles in Sicily.
The work of rescuing and transport
ing wounded and homeless survivors
is attended with the greatest con-
fusion. The task OF digging out and
burying the dead at both Messina and
Reggie has been abandoned. During
the first few days such bodies as were
recovered were laid out in long rows
for possible Identification. but as there
were few cases where any OF the dead
were recognized they are now being
covered with quicklime when this ma
terial is available. Otherwise they are
being left to decompose where they are
found. All the efforts are being di-
rected in getting the survivors away.
More Shocks Predicted
There is reason to believe that the
devastation by earthquake of calabris
and Sicily is not yet at an end Further
heavy shocks have been predicted. and
scientists declare that others still more
severe should occur January and s.
when the relative position of the sun
and moon will produce the greatest
strain on the crust of the earth
Several minor shocks were expert
enied Saturday and many totterfng
walls were thrown down. but It is not
known that any persons were klll>A