Evening star., 1950-01-08
Soldiers Ordered Out
To Help Fight Floods;
Snow Hits Northeast
BY the Asseciotsd Press

~ WV ttesb
Soldiers and guardsmen were
modified yesterday for flood fight
ing in the Midwest. and an un-
expected blast of cold heaped
fresh damage on the California
citrus crop.
Floods, following drenching
rains, already have driven more
than 1000 persons from their
homes in the Midwest and South.
Although the crisis still is to come
for several cities, waters are re-
ceding in some areas and at
least 1000 persons have returned
to their dwellings.
A wave of cold, clear air bore
down on the Midwest from Can
ada, easing the flood threat mo-
mentarily. but forecasters said it
would be short lived. The freeze
is expected to slow the runoff of
ground waters into swollen rivers
and streams,
500 Soldiers Ordered Out.
Eight hundred soldiers were
ordered to leave Fort Knox, KY,
yesterday for Vincennes, Ind,
where the crest of the rampaging
Wabash River is expected the
middle of the week. The city's
National Guard unit was ordered
to be ready to assist them. Off
cials in the city of $4,000 said
the situation was serious but not
alarming. The soldiers are ex-
pected to strengthen levees in
the area
The Embarrass River, which
Joins the Wabash near Vincennes
began pouring over rich farmland
between Vincennes and Lawrence
vile, ILL.,, when levee gave way.
Brig. Gen. Frank Singer, assis-
tant Illinois adjutant general,
ordered rs National Guardsmen
at Lawrenceville to help the sheriff
combat the flood threat in that
area.
Snow in Northeast.
The Embarrass rose to 26.9 feet
at Lawxenceville yesterday, two
feet above the 1943 flood crest.
About 100 square miles of farm
land were inundated by two levee
breaks in the area.
Meanwhile, heavy snow storm
ended long spell of summer-in-
January weather in the northeast,
and a bright sun began melting
away an icy mantle that coated
much OF the southeast.
The California freeze was the
worst on record in some spots.
Crop damage was heavy, especially
IN high areas where growers did
not anticipate it. Some growers,
their smudge pot fuel exhausted
by a long siege of cold, burned
rubber tires to ward away frost.
California Mercury Drops.
The mercury dropped to 19 de-
grees at Riverside, lowest since
the city started keeping weather
records in 1902. Possibly one third
OF the citrus crop there was dam
aged. San Bernadino had 81 de-
grees, coolest of the season. The
forecast, cheering growers. was
cloudiness and rain by late today,
Florida citrus trade officials said
the West Coast freeze undoubtedly
will affect fruit prices for the rest
OF the season, but warned Florida
growers to go slow on trying to
cash in. Florida growers were
urged to use restraint lest heavy
shipments send the market tun-
bling.
Floods also plagued Mississippi
and Tennessee. but no serious
damage was expected. Governors
OF both States, however, ordered
National Guard units to stand by
for any emergency. -.e
The Ohio River was rising
toward flood stage at several West
Virginia points but the situation
did not appear critical. A crest
above flood stage was expected at
Parkersburg, w. Va, today, but a
S6,ooo,000 flood wall protects the
town. Another crest above flood
stage was expected tomorrow at
Point Pleasant, w. Va. At other
river towns the crest was slightly
below flood stage,