Ankara, Dec. 29.
The terrible earthquake—which ravaged Anatolia last Tuesday 1s rapidly assuming the proportions of a great catastrophe, and may well rank Among the most frightful disasters of modern times, according to statistics now available.
The exact figures of the dead and wounded are as yet unknown, but it Is safe to say that they are well over the ten-thousand mark.
"The survivors, without shelter, help or food, are exposed to the many hardships of the unusually severe winter here, where the temperature often 30'degrees below zero, The epicentre of the earthquake appears to be the ancient town of Erzincan, which has already felt the touch of violent death, having been destroyed by an earthquake in 1784, Practically alt houses in this town of 16,000 inhabitants have been razed. with the exception of the huge army Barracks. The majority of the inhabitants were either killed oF wounded in their beds.
In the small town of Zaba, a thousand houses were destroyed, while fifteen hundred inhabitants were kelled.
Some of the most important historical "monuments have been wrecked, as for instance, the famous old mosque of Bayazet.
The Turkish Government has taken Immediate steps to help the victims. 'A national committee has been organized for the purpose of collecting offerings and subsidies, and to or= ganize relief, The Health and the Home Ministers have already loft for Erzincan, and rescue parties have been dispatched from Ankara and neighbouring towns: to the distressed areas—Havas.
Earth Tremors in'S. Africa Capetown, Dee. 29.
Twenty-five earth tremors were reported in the Rand mountain area during the last 24 hours, but there was no damage done although build ings were shaken.—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.