The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-01-25
Bridge Forming Dam In
River Seine Will Be
Blown Up.
FIRE AND WATER
ENTRAP HUNDREDS
American Ambassador May Be
Forced TO Leave His
Home.

PARIS. Jan 2-The military authori-
ties this afternoon made arrangements
to dynamite the Alma bridge, as the
continued rise Of tn Seine makes IL al
most inevitable that driftwood and
wreckage viii lodge against the bridge
and form disastrous dam, flooding the
entire city.
There is still a slight hope that the
destruction Of the bridge may be avoid
ed, but as It seriously threatens the IN
obstrUcted flow Of the Seine, It Is prac-
Tically certain that It viii have TO be
sacrificed The bridge is one Of the most
beautiful structures across the Seine.
Reports f9Om the river Saone section
say that stream Is now a raging tor
rent, miles in width The villages GU
roUx, Giguy. Maruays La Calonne. and
Epervierre, along the Saone, were inun-
dated this afternoon the people fleeing
in terror. There is said not 70 be
score OF persons remaining IN the FIVE
towns
The soldiers OF every bauack In
France are now doing food relief ser
vice.
The Pont St Louis, connecting the St
Louis and Delacite Islands, and the
Pont desarts, crossing the Seine from
The Juai de Louvre. are in imminent
danger OF destruction Both bridges
have been moved partially from their
foundations and are likely 70 collapse
at any moment The public has been
barred from them
Notre Dame Church Flooded
The basement OF Notre Dame Church
one Of the most famous church edifces
IN Europe, was flooded today, as was
The basement OF the Hotel Dieu. the
city's largest hospital The foundations
OF Notre Dame are not believed 70 be
in any danger The hospital viii have
20 be abandoned unless relief Is OBJ
Tained quickly
Stung BY the g1bes Of the press. which
has accused him Of nIggardlIneSs, Pres
ldent E'allieres today personally sub
Scnbed 5000 for the relief Of the SUI
ferers-
FaIIieres, Premier BRAND. and Minis
ter Of Public Works Afiueraud made Q
parts Of the city They found tie con
ditions even worse than had been rep
Churches, schools. and public halls are
being used 10 house the people who
have been driven from their homes
Several thousands Of these Unfortunates
are absolutely destitute To relieve the
acute distress the military authorities
Today Joined hands with the Red Cross
societies in furnishing beds and food
10 the food victims.
Only a small part OF the Paris sub
way IS now IN operation and but few
trains are moving on any OF the railway
lines
Hundreds OF factories have had 70 sus-
pend, and between $500 and 1900 work
men are temporarily out OF employment
Despite the almost tragic aspect OF the
situation, the people generally manifest
mere curiosity than alarm They line
n
different danger points and appear In
almost holiday mood AT the novel spec
taCle presented
measured tWenty-SiE feet and three
inches above low tide at the Ponr Royal
The basement Of the home IF Am
erican Ambassador Robert Bacon. for
merly occupied by Ambassador White,
At IS Avenue Klebcrt. was flooded to
day The house IS also partially sur
rounded with water. II the rise con
sary for the ambassador 70 vaCate his
home
Champs Elysee Flooded
Water has invaded the lower Champs
Elysee quarter. where many Of the
finest homes in Paris. including that OF
President Fe1lieres are situated Already
the residents in this section are re
moving their furniture n anticipation
OF a continued rise
The Quai de Billy and Avenue Mon
tsigne sections. TWO OF theI show
streets OF the city sra submerged
Several hundreds Of people were tenn
porarily endangered today BY a FIRE
that destroyed the chemical works at
Ivry, a suburb OF Paris.
The people had taken refuge on point
OF land beyond the burning chemical
works and found themselves surrounded
on three sides by the food and by the
burning building on the fourth side. The
situation was rapily becoming desperate
when TesCueTs IN boats and RATS took
OF the imprisoned people.
The burning Of the chemical works
threw the suburb into e panic as the
IRE department IS 50 badly crippled that
a bad FIRE might deTastate the town.
Third OF France Submerged.
Paris has been 50 absorbed with her
own danger that little attention has
been paid TO the critical conditions
throughout the country. It IS estimated
that One-thiTd OF the country is sub
merged. and that such damage has beeD
done in the rural and wfne-erovzfne- Sec
tons as VIII require years for recovery
Cities and towns along nearly every
river in France are suffering Incredible
loss one erect OF which, IL IS feared
viii be the Inauguration Of high food
prices Meat prices have already been
raised 50 per cent vegetables . Der
cent ana eggs and butter 70 per cent
The railway lines are so crippled that
few trains are moving, and the stocks
of provisions are rapidly being depleted
The government may take arbitrary
action Il prevent the charging Of pro
libitiVe prices.
Today's rain is alternating with vio-
lent SnowsJoTnlS- which have practically
isolated Paris Telegraph and telephone
communication is crippled, and II is i'm
possible to learn the extent Of the darn
age in other parts Of France
HOULfHAN IS CHAP AIN