Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-06

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 8 (R1.--
The death toll in food battered
Tampico mounted today to 326
by unoficial count, as the re-
lentless Panuco River went still
higher.
Reports from upriver COM
munities of a sharp drop held
out some hope Of relief for the
stricken port within 48 hours
But there were fears the inland
rains of the past week would
continue, sending the rivers
headwaters climbing again be-
fore Tampico could get a respite,
AS Mexico grappled with q
major disaster beyond the limits
of its strained resources, United
States armed forces and relief
agencies handled most of the
rescue and relief operations at
Tampico. Mexican efforts have
been concentrated largely on re-
lief to the Yucatan peninsula,
where hurricane Janet killed an
estimated 200 persons last week
and wiped out three towns.
u. S. Group Assisting
AT Tampico. the aircraft car
rier under Rear Admiral M. e
Miles took the lead in the most
intensive American relief cam
paign ever staged In Mexico. The
United States Army. Air Force
and Marines, plus the American
Red Cross and the Salvation
Army. poured food. clothing.
medicine and other supplies into
the stricken city OF 10000 and
the surrounding area.
The aircraft carrier Siboney
was en- route from Norfolk with
IL large helicopters, while the
Oglethorpe, an American trans
port, was reported loading addi-
tional food at Norfolk.
1t. Col. M. c. CULLEN, airlift
operations officer in charge of
joint United States Army Air
Force transportation, announced
that the l4th Air Force has air.
lifted approximately 100000
pounds Of food and clothing to
Tampico since October !.
The United States 4th Army's
headquarters in San Antonio,
Tex, announced 1t was preparing
additional equipment for air
shipment requested by the Red
Cross and Navy. Included are
water publication units. power
generators and field equipment.
Army personnel were being sent
to operate and maintain the
equipment.
Operation Friendship"
Grateful residents of Tampico
called all this Operation Friend
ship" Mexican newspapers
hailed the aid as greatly
strengthening United States
Mexican ties.
The forces gave top priority
to rescuing trapped refugees in
the Tampico area. Most Of this
work has been carried out by IA
helicopters. An estimated 1900
persons have been rescued in the
last three days. Tamaulipas
Gov. Horacio Teran reported
another 1900 were stin marooned
on rooftops. bikes and in trees
in the Los Llanos Del Colo area
out from the city.
Pan American World Always
rushed a 70-passenger clipper
plane from Miami to help eyacu-
ate the victims to other cities.
The number Of homeless was
staggering-83,000 in Tampico
itself and about 100, 900 in the
surrounding area.
The exodus from the city was
slowed by lack Of surface trans
portation. No highways or rail-
roads were open, and the exit by
sea was dangerous because Of
swift currents. Even the road to
the airport was flooded. making
the trip difficult except for hell
copters.
Sees No Epidemics
Although some cases of dysen-
terry have been reported, there
has been no major outbreak Of
disease. Dr.. Ortiz Mariotte,
chief of the medical brigade of
the Health Ministry, predicted
there would be no epidemics.
His division gave $500 persons
EIazllIuzElns uuurunz,