The Detroit times., 1909-01-02

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2--it has been
definitely decided to send at least q
portion Of the battleship fleet to Nee
sina.
The government will contribute am
other shipIoad Of supplies and possL
bly, a substantial sum Of money.
The Western Union Telegraph COM
pany will transmit free msssaoos -,
iating 60 the relief Of she ItaBJ4R UIsss
ferers when offered by regular relisf
committees or public OFFICIALS.
ROME, Jan. 2.-Queen Helene Wao
slightly injured while administering
to the sufferers In an improvised hos
pitaI at Messina yesterday. A slight
earthquake shock was experienced
and the inmates became panic-strick-
en-. The queen In endeavorinQ 20
calm their fears, was caught IN their
rush for the open and sustained injurs
les to her chest.
ROME, Jan. 2.-The work of relief
to the starving people OF the earth.
quske-swept region continued all day
today, and vigorous efforts were made
to prevent pestlence from the large
groups Of dead bodies which are indi.
cations Of the deadly toll Of the Latest
disaster.
The people Of the devastated seq
ton are crazed by starvation. Sol.
dlers patrol what were the picturesque
streets Of the cities and towns, and,
many times the armed men are COM
PEELED to use violence against the ref
ugees who are not responsible for
their actions.
The waters TO the south are trav~
ersed today by ships flying the flags
of all nations. They have on board
food, medical equipment and clothing
for the suffering people, who are taxi
en- on board whenever they are found.
No definite plans have been made
regarding the future of Sicily and
southern Italy. Report has IL that
the once beautiful section OF Europe
which is famed for It's rare architec-
ture will be abandoned by mankind;
that humanity can no longer live safe
ly in the devastated sections But
this is only conjecture. Earthquakes
have swept from the earth other thriv-
ing cities, but the latest cities have
been more beautiful than their prede-
cessors, representing the latest meth.
ods OF architecture, and the building
This has been the situation In Sicily,
and in other spots which have been
swept away in twinkling by the
mighty elements before which the
weak and strong. must bow. King
Victor Emmanuel has not officially ex.
pressed himself on the abandonment
OF the southern districts, but there are
many who select to remain at the
scenes OF their birth and life strug-
giles.
1T is not without tears that one
abandons the place where he and his
ances tors were born and where many
OF his loved ones lie at rest" said one
inhabltant who escaped with his life.
but | have decided To say goodbye
forever TO my native land. Ii Is the
cruel necessity OF defense against
cruel nature
The greatest problem which the Ita.
ian authorities are dealing with today
rs that Of starvation. After the great
havoc that was wrought by the re-
cent earthquake II Is impossible Co
give adequate relief. in such short
time. TO, the victims Word reaches
| Rome today that men and women arc
| literally dying OF starvation in ruined
| Calabria and other sections.
The danger OF pestilence continues.
King Victor Emmanuel has sent a
message to Premier Giolitti urging the
despatch OF quiCklime to be used
where large spaces arc cover.
ed with bodies Of the dead. The proc
lem that is confronting the relief
workers I'm the south is truly the
greatest that has confronted mankind.
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