Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-18
Military Law Is Established
at EIba and Geneva, in
Stricken Alabama.
20 DEAD AS DISEASE
IS BATTLED IN CAMPS
Northwest Florida in Critical Con
dition as High Water Sweeps
Toward Gulf.
BY the Associated Press.

by tue ASSoCihte0
MONTGOMERY, Ala, March l8.
Maj. w. r. Weaver, commandment
of the 4th Corps Area Army flying
field at Maxwell Field here, reported
to Gov. Graves today after an air
plane flight down the Alabama River
that people were hanging to tree
tops" in Lowndes County.
BY the Associated Press.
ATLANTA, Ga, March 18.-KnoWn
deaths from floods that have overrun
portions Of Alabama, Georgia and Florl-
da reached 20 today, with fear expressed
that additional fatalities would be dis
closed by receding waters.
The deluge that submerged villages IN
Southeastern Alabama, hardest MT OF
all the flooded areas, was receding TO-
day. and the waters were moving down
on Northwestern Florida.
sixteen of the known deaths were in
Alabama, three were dead in Georgia
and one in Florida. Elba had the great
est toll with 10 deaths listed. Two were
dead in Geneva, two at Flomaton and
two at Pollard. All three of those
drowned in Georgia were swept from
highway bridge, while the Florida casu-
atty was an aged man who died OF ex-
posure.
Relief Army Tolls.
Meanwhile, an army of relief workers,
made up of the Red Cross, Alabama
National Guardsmen and many private
citizens, concentrated their efforts on
holding down diseases in the refuge
camps established when residents OF
Elba, Geneva and other Alabama COM
munities fed from their homes
Sixteen cases of pneumonia were re-
ported at the Elba refuge camp. Measles
and smallpox were noted, and physi-
clans were carrying on q relentless cam
paign of incubation against smallpox.
From AndaluSia, Ala, came reports
that River Camp, a small town on the
Conecuh River, had been swept away by
the floods and case of smallpox was
reported there.
In the higher residential district OF
Geneva a few returning citizens began
TO make their homes habitable again,
and some merchants were reported to
have moved their stock to the roofs Of
their stores to dry them out.
Food Situation Acute.
The food situation also was acute.
Army airlnen from Maxwell Field, at
Montgomery have dropped tons of food,
clothing and other supplies to thousands
OF marooned persons still awaiting res
cue.
Reports of looting at Elba and Geneva
brought declaration OF military law by
Col. w. E. Persons of the Alabama Ma
tional Guard The governor has been
asked for permission to force the evacu-
alton of residents who refuse to leave
the flooded towns.
Col. Milton Stone of Gov. Graves per-
sonal staff, returning to Montgomery
from Elba, declared there were insult
ficient guardsmen there to adequately
protect the place.
Conditions in Northwest Florida were
critical today, with Caryville and Milli-
gan bearing the brunt of the waters.
Damage at Caryville alone was esti-
mated at more than $500, 900. Most of
the l 200 residents were safe in refugee
camps. Citizens of Milligan moved to
high ground before the waters entered
their village.
The Choctawhatchee, Chattahoochee
and Yellow rivers have risen to record
heights in Florida, with refugees at
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