South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-16

A graphic picture Of the conditions
at Avezzano was given today by Lieut..
Col. George NJ. Dunn, military attache
of the United States embassy in Rome.
He was in charge of the automobiles
that took To Avezzano the blankets
contributed for the relief of the suffer
ers by Mrs. Thomas Nelson Page, wife
of the American ambassador.
Devastation is Awful.
''The devastation of AvezzanO was
the most awful my eyes have ever
Witnessed" he said. 1--WE entered
Avezzano at what had been Napon
st. Down as far as the Piazza TorlOn-
Ia there was not single house stand
ing on either side OF what had been
the towns main thoroughfare.
In many places the debris was
seven and eight feet high, so that no
person could have lived in the street
even if they succeeded in escaping
from their homes.
The same was true of every other
street in the unfortunate town.
There is not a single private
dwelling or public edifice that is not
mass Of crumbling ruins. / discov-
eed only three buildings intact and
these were stables.
''Avezzano is a town Of the dead
not of the living. Under the wreck
age lies practically the entire pOpula-
ton of the ill-fated town with the ex-
ceptiOn Of the few who have been dug
out by the soldiers
Il found many rescue parties
working TO save those entOmbed alive
In two houses near the Piazza TOrlonia
10 persons were found still alive while
l was there. The soldiers set 10
work to save them as soon as they
heard the faint cries coming from the
debris
Save Many Buried Alive
In other parts Of the town we saw
seven groups Of soldiers working with
frenzied haste to liberate victims with
whom they could already communi-
cate. / saw two persons released from
the wreckage after many hours work
They were in a pitiable state for lack
of food and water. IT has been inn
possible to bury the dead. All effort
are being concentrated on the rescue
Of those still living. AS fast as the
corpses are taken out they are laid
in long rows and covered from the
sight
"All this may sound horrible and
dislike TO tell it, but as "A matter Of
fact the horror is SO great that it
cannot be adequately described"
Lieut. Col. Dunn praised highly the
work Of the soldiers and the mem
bers OF the Italian field hospital corps
detailed 10 Avezzano.
Though working under the greatest
wonders he said. Had il not been
for their efforts scores who are now
alive would have perished."
Brings Encouraging News.
Lieut.. Col Charles Z. Train. the
American naval attache here took a
relief automobile OF the United States
embassy into the Liri river valley and
returned today with the most encour-
aging news that has been received
from SOra.
"I left SOra three hours ago he
said. The officers uperintending
the work there told me that the fate
Of the inhabitants was not as bad as
had at first been reported.
Though the town was practically
destroyed, the great majority OF the
inhabitants escaped and now are re-
turning to see what can be saved
from their former dwelling places"
Early reports from SOra had said
that from 500 10 1900 had been
killed there.
'All along our route" continued the
American naval officer. who was al
most worn out" we saw nothing but
devastation. At Arzoli. west Of Avez-
zano. 5000 homeless are being cared
for in a concentration camp.
I'VE distributed blankets freely and
the survivors thanked US heartily TI
never shall forget the ghastly scenes
that I witnessed"
Rumors OF Hoods.
RumOrs were received here last
night that the Liri river had flooded
AvezZano and had drowned many ~
the survivors there. Premier Salandra
stated today that no confirmation OF
these rumOrs had been received and
that be doubted them, as the town lay
considerably above the river.