Imperial Valley press., 1915-01-14

days earthquake, which is believed
to have been one Of the worst in th'
ration's history.
1t is estimated the dead will rang,
as high as $1,000 and the ministr,
Of the interior fears it may go ever
higher.
Every possible effort is being mad,
to re-establish communication will
Avezzano, sixty miles from Rome
1t is reported 1000 were killed il
that town alone and that more thar
twenty towns and villages were
wrecked or destroyed
1t is believed that more than 25,OO(
have been injured and that at least
100000 are homeless.
The king has left Rome for the in
terror to visit points where the earth
quake was most severe
Two special trains have left with
physicians, nurses and medical sup
plies. One of these trains carries
the Duchess D'Aosta, representative OF
Queen Helena, whose health prevents
her going to the sufferers.
Premier Salandra has cancelled a
trip to Naples, staying in Rome to
superintend relief measures. The cab
met has appropriated $4,000
The premier said: Il fear the dis
aster is second only to that of Mes
sina, in which 1900 persons per
ished. The disaster was not so great
as at first feared, but the indications
are that $4,000 is a conservative es-
innate of the dead"
Relief efforts are well under way
and it is essential that there be great
haste, as the weather in some dis
tricts is very cold, which increases
the suffering of the homeless.
Though the damage in Rome is very
severe, the loss of life was small.
Those driven from their homes are
Icing cared for. At least fifty-seven
public buildings in Rome were more
or less seriously damaged. More than
100 windows were broken in the great
dome of st. Peters Eighty houses.
among them the finest residences of
Italian notables, were destroyed. The
marble cross at the entrance of St.
Pauls collapsed Officials of the
Vatican report that among the win
dows broken in the buildings of the
Vatican group are forty-siX belonging
to Michael Angeles cupola. Seven
bosaics were damaged and the statue
of the Redeemer, adorning the fa
cade Of the basilica. also was dam
aged. Special prayers for quake
sufferers were said by the Pope. Pre-
lates in the quake districts held spe-
cial services and are giving what re-
lief they can.
The minister of war has sent 5000
soldiers to the devastated sections to
help the homeless clean up the de
bris.
Food, blankets and tents from the
military stores are distributed to the
sufferers.
Official private advices up to 2
this afternoon estimated that 100 were
killed at Seeva, 100 at Arpino, and the
towns Of Palfarano, Russi and. Gu
cullo are said to have been razed.
AT Sora, District of Abruzzi, forty
were crushed to death by falling
wreckage. The province of Aquila
suffered heavily. Forty are dead at
Mogliano, in that province.
The greatest force of the earth
quake was felt in the Departments Of
Abruzzi and Campania, although there
was heavy damage in the neighboring
departments OF Latium lin which
Rome is located) and Umbera.
Among the chief cities and towns
of the earthquake zone are Avezzano,
Aquila, Penne, Chieti, Sora, Rieti, Gu
cullo, Bussi, Sulinen, Palfarano, Po-
tenza, Arpino, Seva, Moglano and
Lonoiano. Communication with most
places affected by the quake is still
shut off.
The greater part of the territory
{ Effected is in mountainous countrv
Ir some places the railway tunnels
are destroyed and it will. be months
before rail traffic is restored. The
region most deeply affected extends
for about $50 miles from north to
south and about 100 miles from the
Mediterranean coast, east toward the
Adriatic sea, with the heart of the
most terribly stricken area being the
valley of the central Apprentices. These
mountains are not volcanic and the