12 MAY 1928, Page 14

THE GREEK EARTHQUAKES . [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

Sut,—In spite of its total destruction by earthquake twice in seventy years, Corinth is to be rebuilt on the. same site, that is about, three and a half miles north-east of the Corinth of classical times, and the houses are to be built of materials especially able" to withstand "shock. Those who rely on Material against earthquakes must be optiMists, aieverything has gone down in the present catastrophe, big haus& and small, stone and brick and concrete. , Similarly the well- known precaution in an earthquake of standing in an open doorway does not avail much when both floor and wall- go.

The decision to rebuild is partly due to the unusual Cir- cumstance that while the town was deinoliahed the inhabitants, warned by the'previous shocks, nearly all escaped and they 'have nowhere to migrate to where they tan' start afresh. Corinth and the. country bordering the gulf to the west of it have a, valuable product—a monopoly except for

Australia—in the small black Greek currant, of our _plum .

puddings. Corinth has given its name to this " currant," which is really a small grape, and seedless like the sultana raisin of Smyrna across the water.—I am, Sir, -ace., British Club, Athens.

C. A. KNAPP.