New Storm Hits
Dutch, British
Death Toll Hears 200U
By United Press
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, Feb. 4A fierce new storm
lashed the flood-stricken coasts of The Netherlands and Great
Britain today, threatening more than 13,000 persons isolated in
low-lying areas.
A 45-mile wind hurled mounting
North Sea waves against the bat
tered dikes. Waves driven by a 50-
mile wind hit the British coast.
The death toll already had reached
1695.
This country's official death toll
rose to 1223.
It was feared that the final total
would approach 2000, and 300,000
persons are homeless.
Britain counted 445 dead, Belgium
20 and Germany 7.
This afternoon the warning came
that a 35-mile wind would hit the
coast late today. Some 1800 persons
were still isolated on Goerre-Over-
flakkee Island, 400 on St. Philips-
land and 5500 on Schouwen.
Authorities decided to try to
evacuate all persons remaining on
Schouwen, which has a normal
population of 24,000.
Both British and Dutch weather
bureaus posted storm warnings.
The British said high tides and
i gales would hit the East Coast of
England, where thousands of troops
including American servicemen
police, firemen and civilians rushed
to rebuild seawalls and dikes.
HUGE RESCUE
The Dutch urged all survivors,
particularly in flooded houses, to
leave immediately because of the
danger of weakened buildings col
lapsing under the battering of rising
waves and winds.
One of the most concentrated
rescue efforts of all time was under
way in the North Sea countries.
An international rescue army at
least 3000 boats, 125 planes and 30
helicopters raced the threatening
weather and floods, hunger and the
threat of disease to aid flood vic
tims.
POTATOES PEGGED
The government said that because
450,000 acres of landmost of it
arablehad been flooded, the ex
port of potatoes had been banned
and a maximum potato price fixed
on the home market.
Princess Wilhelmina visited the
Schouwen-Duiveland islanders yes
terdaythe third consecutive day
she has been in the floor area. Look
ing very tired, the Queen Mother
climbed sandbags and visited with
the victims for hours.
Belgian troops struggled with
bulldozers and shovels to reach sev
en villages near the Belgian-Ger
man border isolated by the winter's
heaviest snowstorm.
