The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-11
Squadron of American Battle
ship Fleet Arrives at
italian Port.
BRING CHEER TO STRICKEN
SOCIALIST DEPUTIES AT ROME
MAKE AN ATTACK ON THE PRO-
POSED REFORM MEASURES IN
THE EARTHQUAKE ZONE.

Naples, Jan. 1.-THE United Sta,es
battleships. Connecticut. Kansas, Min
nesota. and Vermont. under Rear Adj
miral Sperry. the commander Of the
Atlantic fleet. arrived here al dawn
yesterday. anchoring between the ltal-
ian battleship Bendetto Brin and the
cruiser San Giorgio.
Ambassador Griscom returned from
Messina TO present Rear Admiral
Sperry to the king.
The steamer Verona arrived OF this
port yesterday with refugees from
Reggio, and $1,000. 900 for the Bank OF
Naples. The vessel was unable 10 en-
ter owing to the rough sea and tug
went out While being towed the
hawser broke. The tug was so badly
damaged il sank. The crew WAS res
cued. but the Verona was nearly
wrecked.
The Italian parliament has had un-
der consideration al Rome special
law authorizing the expenditure OF
money and the enforcement of special
measures in the earthquake area. II
had been hoped that the bill would be
passed without discussion bat amend
ments were introduced by Socialists.
who criticised in various particulars
and deplored that no legislation Was
in hah nf DO
phans by the calamity.
Socialist Attack on Government.
This proved the entering wedge foi
an attack on the Italian government
by Sig. de Felico. Socialist.
De Felico said the rescue work had
been insufficient and many victims
persisted who could have been saved.
Prime Minister Giolitti assured the
house the orphans had not been for.
gotten and said special commission
would be appointed exclusively 10 con-
slider them.
Then Sig. Faranda. surviving depu-
ty for Messina, lamented the estab-
lishment of a state of siege. declaring
it too harsh a measure. especially for
the neighboring country districts to
which II extended. II was. he added.
as bad as a second earthquake.
Sig. Giolitt defended the action OF
the government in declaring q state
OF siege. saying II was indispensable
to prevent plumber.
Sig. Denava. the Calabrian deputy,
thanked the British navy for the as
sistance it rendered. which caused the
house to applaud.
Survivors Cling to Ruins.
The criticisms led to notifications
! OF few clauses of the bill. which then
passed with only FIVE dissentients In
the full house.
Messina have been only partly sue
cessful. II has been impossible to ex-
clude SURVIVORS, by force. while the
plan to cease the distribution Of food
ashore. limiting the distribution to the
ships. proved to be practically USE
less
The survivors Obstinately cling 10
the ruins. They say they would rath-
er die from starvation than abandon
their native city. Moreover. the sold
iers share their ratiOns with the hun
CRY sufferers. Refugees who arer now
scattered throughout Italy are clamor-
ing to return.
Notwithstanding that burials and
disinfection still go on efforts TO de.
strOy the odor OF putrefaction are un.
availing
/ In accordance with instructions
from the archbishop, priests are now
traversing the ruins Of Messina. pray
ing for and absolving the dead with
uplifted hands.
The battleships Wisconsin. Illinois
and kearsarge of the Atlantic fleet
left Port Said yesterday for Malta
The New Jersey left for MarseiIIes
The repair ship Panther and the col
lier Ajax entered the Suez canal to-
day bound north.
The American battleships wiscon.
sin. Illinois and the Kearsarge are ex-
i pected 10 arrive at Malta on Thurs
day. to remain four DAYS
Effect Of ealmy Weather.
/ At Messina. baimy weather. despite
its Instantaneous effects upon de-
.
makes il possible at least for troops
and survivors TO live more comfort
ably in the Open Occasionally there
are earth shocks. Some have brought
down more broken walls, but the peo-
pie have become accustomed to these
minor shocks.
Gen. Mazza, who is in supreme COM
mand. has adopted stringent measures
in order TO protect people and prop
erty. In addition TO establishing q
police service around the city, he has
issued orders that any person found
excayating without a permit shall be
shot. Gen. Mazza's command extends
to both sides of the straits
In an interview he said that some
semblance of order was At last being
reestablished. The work Is now sys-
tematized and the situation. he -
lieved, was well In hand.