Four Hundred Bodies Recovered in Ruins of Palestine Earthquake

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Four hundred bodies of victims in the earthquake which visited Palestine Monday afternoon have already been recovered from the debris in the cities and villages.

According to the list of casualities compiled by the authorities, the number of injured was placed at 450. The casualties list shows that eight were killed in Amman, the capital of Transjordania, and 85 in Es Salt. No casualties were reported among the Jewish population.

Thousands of families all over the country spent last night in the open air, fearing a repetition of the earthquake.

Not a house in Jerusalem or Hebron is without some damage. Two synagogues, one in Jerusalem, the other in Tiberias, were destroyed. In several Palestinian towns, the Moslem mosques and the government office buildings were damaged.

The house of the British representative in Amman, Transjordania, was totally destroyed. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, as well as the Greek Choir Chapel and two large domes are damaged.

A message of sympathy was received by Col. Symes, acting High Commissioner, from High Commissioner Lord Plumer, who is now on a vacation in England.

The metropolitan press commented yesterday on the earthquake in Palestine.

“This land is the rightful concern of the whole Western world–of Christian, Jew and Moslem alike.” the New York Times” writes, “and this is an occasion for all to unite in the demonstration of their common devotion to this little plot of earth which should be kept as a joint spiritual reservation.”

A despatch from London states that the Zionist Executive has forwarded the amount of £100 as the first aid for the Palestine earthquake victims.