We deeply regret to record a terrible earthquake in Italy.
It is estimated that twelve thousand persons have been killed and twenty thousand injured. But for the preoccupation of the war, the consternation aroused throughout the world by this catastrophe would have been comparable with that of the great earthquake of 1908, when Messina and Reggio were destroyed. The shocks were felt over a very wide area, including Tuscany, Latium, the Marche, and the Abruzzi. In Rome itself some damage was done but no lives were lost. The town to suffer most was Avezzano, which was entirely destroyed. Belsorano, Bussi, Cucullo, Sore, Arpino, and Magliano were all partially shattered, and the small town of Aielli near Horne is in ruins. At Arpino the tower to the memory of Cicero fell and killed many persons. In the dome of St. Peter's, Rome, one hundred and fifty windows were broken, but the architectural injuries were not great. The price Italy pays for her beauty is certainly heavy and recurrent. The profound sympathy of the whole British Empire is here in this new trial.
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