The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-31
10000 FEARED
DEAD AS QUAKE
SKATERS INDIA
ID British Airmen Are Re-
orpted Killed in AdvlCeS
to London.
DISTRICT A SHAMELESS
Military Forces Working
Under Great HardShipS
in Rescue Work.
BY ". A. WYATT
United Press Correspondent

kAkAOftl, lnuld, NldN d.
A devastating earthquake
demolished the Quetta region
on the northwest frontier to-
day. burying thousands of
natives and Europeans in the
ruins of a once prosperous
city and countryside.
Unofficial estimates placed the
casualties al probably 10000. II will
be q long and difficult task 10 de-
termine the number accurately.
however. since most Of the victims
lie under the debris.
British and Indian troops toueo
feverishlv. extricating literally thou
sands of dead and injured from the
ruins Of the vanished city Of 1000
inhabitants.
Scene of Destruction
The fertile and beautiful district,
IN the plains $500 feet above sea
level and ringed by mountains, was
? scene Of utter destruction.
Camps for the injured and des-
titute were established on the race
course and at the British residency
The greatest loss Of life occurred
IN the native quarter Of the city,
where the teeming population was
trapped in the ruins of himSy
houses. The rescue work was great
IL Impeded by constantly eollapsing
walls.
The dead. # was officially an
nouncsd. included a white men,
bers of the Royal Air Force.
Despite the number of air force
casualties. the military station.
which is some distance from Quetta
CITY. was not demolished.
No Direct Communications
The station. set high in the beau
tiful and healthful hill country. Is
one NJ the prize stations OF India.
Newspapers and telegraph Offices
siere we're besieged by fearful in
ouirers after news Quetts is the
holiday hill station for Karachi. and
Is freouented by British military
and civilian servants Of all ranks.
Direct communications are non
existent. There Is no way Of get
ting any news from Quetta except
fraemsntarv reports being picked
up from the official radio. which Is
combining itself 10 essential messages
concerning relief. and is not car
ryng general news.
Early fears Of starvation we're
banished when II was found that
the food supplies are adequate for
the present ana the railroads and
highways are still paSSable.
After an urgent radio call for re-
be- from Sir Norman Gator agent
ior Beluchistsn. 70 the governor
general. relief trains started from
the provincial capitals for ouetts.
which is the center Of 4 strategic
network Of railways IN the frontier
country.
Doctors. Nurses on WAY.
One train left Karachi AZ p. m.
with doctors and nurSes-many OF
them medical supplies
and railroad telegraph repair gangs
The military ana the Royal Air
Force also sent relief parties.
A railroad Official who came by
rsil-motor from Quetts 70 Spszsnd
reported that the railroad head
quarters a. Quetts had been 6evaS-
tsted and that many OF the railroad
personnel we're killed when their
quarters crashed.
The government Of India an
nounced that 20 70 80 members Of
the ROYAL Air Force AZ Quota were
reported missing, IN addition % the
a killed
Police Force Wiped Out
Almost the entire police force was
reported % have been wiped out.
British soldiers stationed az Quetta
had to assume the task Of policing
thousands OF distracted refugees.
Most OF the casualties occurred in
the congested area OF the city.
where the houses crumbled into the
narrow streets. overwhelming the
psnic-stricken residents as they fled.
blotting out rosdways and cutting
off communication with the mill
tsry and railroad stations.
The government announced two
British civil officers we're killed With
their wives and one with his mother
m-law. II added that the bunga-
lows OF many officers we're wrecked.
but. as far as il vas known. the only
casualties among officers OF the mil
itary and roysl air force and their
families we're one pilot otncer killed
and fight neutenant's child miss
ins.