New Britain herald., 1930-07-26

speed with which the news was gath cred is an inSesting comparison with the Messina earthquake in 1908. when it .~as more than a week be- 7 fore the extent of the disaster was even vaguely Known.
 Rome, July 26 (UP)-[The zone which has suffered in the Italian earthquake is in the midst of a mountain region, where problems of transportation of provisions and re- lief supplies are difficult.
 Thomas B. Morgan United Press manager for Italy with headquarters in Rome, who was the first corres- pondent to reach the stricken area, made his headquarters in the town of Benevento. the best availa ble cen- ter of communication. From there he traversed the earthquake zone by motor car.
 The distance between Benevento and Ariano is 25 miles while Villano- va is located on a secondary road u miles from the main road. Virtually all of the towns in the region are situated on mountain tops, relic of the medieval custom of locating towns high up in the mountains to render defense easier.
 None of the towns which have suffered severely is on the main na- tional highway except Ariano. Towns are approached by small roads whic h ascend with heavy grades up the nj 1i inc ho oF which one can see for miles around the country.
 The correspondent found the peasants of these mountain top vl- lages faced the greatest difficulty in procuring supplies. They had to travel great distances to reach cen- ters where provisions could be pur- chased.
 Peasants Need Food When Morgan reached Montecalvo o he first heard the cry for more bread and came to realize the posi- tion of the inhabitants, who had to descend the mountain and then as- cend another before they could reach a center of supply.
 The nearest towns where provi- sions are available in the earthquake zone are Benevento or Avellno and all of the stricken area is at least 25 miles distant from them. The ma jority of the towns are ordinarily y completely out of touch with centers of civilization except for occasional visits by inhabitants.
 The town of Zungoli is 10 miles from the main road and the trip to it is usually made by motor. bus starting from Avellino and calling at abouts is rough and primitive peas [ ants living almost entirely from the products of their fields.
 This normal isolation of such towns as Villanova, Zungoli and Montecalvo prevented authorities from knowing the exact situation there earlier. Personal visit by off cials was necessary before they fully understood the gravity of the situa- ton.
 When the United Press core spondent reached that region ne had already learned no supplies |, could be bought there and he car ried his own food with him in his car from Benevento.
 Travels In Autos Morgan left Rome on the first train Wednesday morning. when h. realized the gravity of the earth quake disaster, Arriving at Naples ne hired car and drove to thc ' scene of damage in Naples. Re turning 10 the telegraph office he cabled his story and caught tn, next train for Benevento.
 Arriving at Benevento he ascer- tained the extent of the damage there, forwarded his news and left by automobile for Ariano where h. arrived at D. m. There he in spected the ruins, worming his way through streets filled with debris and then proceeded to Villanova, 1 miles distant where he was the frs; newspaperman to discover that tho dead would be counted by thou. sands, getting the news to American afternoon papers of Wednesday. |, > Inspecting the ruins of Villanova Morgan climbed over debris in dan ger any minute from falling walls or collapsing floors. Often he wa; warned by carabineers but he climb ed to the highest point in the tow, from which he could view the sur. rounding region.
 Returning to Ariano, he tried tc . telegraph story from there bu' the temporary post office in tht public square already was swarmcl with messages and he continue. back to Benevento, whence he sen, his story to the Rome office of the United Press.
 Inspects Encampments
 During the flight he inspected the encampments where the population was sleeping out of doors, and tn. following morning resumed his toul of the stricken region.
 Meanwhile, Edward A. Storer, on, of Morgan's assistants in the Rom, bureau. also had left for the strick. en regions Wednesday. He pushed through to Melf, where great devas tation had occurred, His way wa frequently blocked by disrupte, railway lines and highways. but n' :. reached Melf on Thursday and go out the first direct story from ther' { by telephone to Rome.
 Other regular correspondents a various towns in the stricken re