New Britain herald., 1915-02-15
ITALY NOW IN GRASP
 OF SERIOUS FLOODS
Heavy Rdnstorms Cause Streams to
 Rise Over Their Banks.

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 PEOPLE DRIVEN FROM HOMES Fiber Rising at Rate of Two Inches an
 Hour-Pope and Military Authori-
 ties Urge Subordinates to Help Dis
 tressed People.
 Rome, Feb. 15, 1:1o P. M.-Infor- nation from the upper req ches Of the Fiber indicate further rise in the flood water of a few inches, after which, unless there should come more rain, the waters undoubtedly will be- gin to go down.
 Streams Out of Banks.
 Rome Feb. IS, 2:55 a. m.-Italy. having just passed through a period Of grave anxiety as a result of destruc- tive earthquakes, is now facing a new peril in the form of floods. Every where streams are out of their banks, due to heavy rainstorms which have continued for several days.
 In the low-lying quarters the peo- pie have been driven from their homes or are prisoners in the upper stories of their houses The military auth critics have taken cognizance of the situation and troops have been sent to aid in rescue work and to pro- vide food to sufferers cut off from supplies.
 Two Inches an Hour.
 Tn Rome the River Fiber is out of it's banks and is rising at rate of two inches an hour. The one bright spot in the situation is that the weather, early today showed signs of clearing, and this gives hope that the waters will soon recede.
 The Leonine City. as the Vatican quarters of Rome is called is in the lower part of the town, and this sec- tion is generally flooded. The water, however, has not yet reached the apostolic palace of St. Peters. Pope Benedict is taking a sympathetic in- terest in the situation and has en- joined all the parish priests to energy in aiding their distressed parishioners. The Pope himself spent a good deal of his time Sunday in watching tho rising waters in the quarter just be- low the Apostolic palace.
 Hospital Patients Removed.
 Two hundred patients in the hos pital of Santo Spirito, near the Vatican have been removed to the upper floors of the building.
 The authorities have closed the road from Rome to the sea, in which there are several deposits of carbide and lime. Some of these, through infiltra- ton from the flooded Tiber, have al- ready exploded and caused nearby buildings to collapse. Fortunately there were no casualties, as the people, foreseeing danger had left the place.
 Famous Bridge Threatened.
 Great anxiety is felt today for the famous St Angelo bridge, originally erected by Emperor Hadrain and which connects his tomb with the city.
 The water already Is over the pill lars of the bridge, and troops, engl7 neers and firemen are at the scene do- ing what is possible to check the peril l Milos Bridge, built over 100 years be- 1 fore Christ, is inundated, and water also surrounds the imposing Basilica of St. Paul's. The, SubliOus Bridge, | the structure supposed to have been defended by Horatius and two com i panions also is under water. This is the oldest bridge in Rome, having been built in the year 639 B. c.
 The bridges which have shown signs of weakness have been closed to 1 tra fife
 Several Houses Flooded.
 Many houses in the immediate | neigh bOrhood of St. Peters have from l three to four feet of water in the 1 lower stories and the inhabitants have | been obliged to move to the upper l floors.
 In the low-lying quarters of the city 1 boats are the only means of commun- ication. Crowds spent the night 1 watching the rising tide.
 Rome Italy, Feb. IS, 1:35 P. M.- The flood waters in the streets around l St. Peters have risen to height of four fet and eleven inches. Several | walls have collapsed, but without serious consequence.
 Threatening to Collapse.
 Rome, Feb. 15, 1:27 D. m.-The great staircase of 300 steps in Rome le ading from the Trastevere station to the Monteverde section. a hilly quar- pning to collapse because of the un- 1ermining of the waters.
 WILL, RECONSIDER DECISION.
 London, Feb. 15 2:32 p. m.-The I~E