Armada Saves
Thousands in
Holland Flood
N V HERALD TRIBUNE
fEB 6 1953
U. S. British Helicopters
Join 6-Nation Rescues on
Newly Imperiled Islands
AMSTERDAM, Feb. 5 (UP).—
A six-nation mercy armada res
cued thousands of persons from
the flood zones of Holland today.
Twilight found American and
British helicopters still lifting to
safety those trapped by new breaks
in dikes around the villages of
Noordgouwe on Schouwen-Duive-
land Island and Nieuwedijk in the
Province of Brabant.
Officials said tonight they were
satisfied that the main job was
done, and all but a few not yet
found had been taken to safe
places.
The official death toll in the
storm and flood stood at 1,770. In
addition to 1,320 dead in Holland,
Great Britain had 423 victims, Bel
gium 20 and Germany7.
More Deaths Expected
The Dutch toll was believed cer
tain to rise. Unofficial estimates
placed it at more than 1,500. Am-
sterdam newspapers quoted rescue
workers as saying 1,000 were dead
on Schouwen Island alone.
In Britain, sandbag walls won
the first round against wind-lashed
tides, and authorities said the
situation was under control along
the 1,000 miles of coastline.
Bulldozer crews and troops
worked under floodlights tonight
to plug the remaining holes in the
sea walls from Canvey Island in
the mouth of the Thames north
ward toward the Scottish border.
An official said between 100 and
150 of the 500 beaches had been
sealed and "with luck they should
hold."
In Holland, too, the main vic
tory .had been won after a day
which saw some 1,50 persons im
periled by breaks in dikes. The
gaps were plugged by sandbags
dropped from planes. American,
British,' Dutch, Belgian, French
and German teams took part in
the work.
Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway,
Supreme Allied Commander in
Europe, congratulated Lt. Col.
Robert Rizon, of Los Angeles, com
mander of the 12th Air Rescue
Mission, for the work of his heli
copters. In two days they had
rescued almost 1,500 persons, many
of whom might have died other
wise.
The search went on all day to
day. The sky was alive with land
planes, amphibians and heli
coptersthe sea with thousands
of craft from rowboats to mine
sweepers and amphibious ducks.
Officials estimated that 20,000
of the residnets of Schouwen-
Duivelland island had been evacu
ated and only 2,000 or so remained
iin the comparatively safe western
[sand dune region.
