New-York tribune., 1909-01-03
USE OF BATTLESHIPS
OFFERED TO ITALY
PRESIDENT PL4NS UORE
RELIEF UE1SURES.
Congress to Vote S5OO,OOO To-
moTOu-T5ro Supply Ships
4Iready Sent.
IFryrn The Tribune Bureau. :

Washington, Jan. President Roosevelt an
nounced tonight that he has sent two ships
with 100000 worth OF supplies to Italy. that he
will ask Congress for additional aid for the
earthquake sufferers. and has offered the use
OF the battIeship fleet to Italy The announce
ment was made in the following telegram. sent
10 Patrick F. MCGOWAN. chairman Of the Auleri-
can-ItaIian general relief COMMITTEES. OF New
York:
I earnestly wish success TO the American
Italian general relief committee in its great mass
meeting at Madison Square Garden IL Is, oE
course. not possible for TO attend in person
1 am doing everything that can be done to get
aid TO the suffering. and account of the eX-
trene urgency Of the case have sent two supply
snlps with SSoOOOO worth OF food and provisions
without waiting for the authority OF Congress.
being confident that Congress viii approve OF
my action j shall also ask Congress for addl-
tiOnal aid and throughout the coming week viii
keep in the closest touch with Congress and.
through the State Department. with Italy.
that everything possible to be done by the
United States may be done.
Furthermore, I have cabIed the italian gov
eminent, pTOffering the services Of any or all
of the battleship fleet if such can be Of use in
this crisis.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
The President has practically decided TO ask
Congress TO appropriat~ 100000 for the RELIEF
OF the sufferers and has received assurances
from the leaders that his recommendation will
be promptly complied with The present ex-
both houses and get it to the White House in
time for Executive approval before the close OF
the day Monday
Speaker Cannon conferred with the President
the latter's invitation tonight concerning the
message to Congress Mr- Cannon said Con-
gress would provide liberal appropriation,
available quickly as possible.
The Culgoa, now at Port Said. has been or
dered TO leave with the feet only such supplies
are needed for the immediate wants Of the
battIeshps and proceed 70 Naples with the
remainder. while the Celtic which has just
sailed from New York viii also deliver her sup
plies to the stricken Italians.
The President was engaged tonight in pre-
pairing his message TO Congress. \ large
amount OF information precedeuts and re-
garding the aid which is being rushed from vari-
Gus quarters to Southern italy had been pre-
pared for him. and was considered carefully 1t
shown that in the Mont Pelee disaster the
government appropriated S2DO.OOO for relief ut
the sufferers. and committee Of we'll known
men was appointed visit the scene and dis
burse the money. similar plan appealed
strongly to the President. certain modifcations
being suggested. such as the selection Of a COM
nittee OF Americans now In italy, or the desiS-
nation of the American Ambassador or agents
Of the Red Cross to attend 10 the disbursements
of the money. The question which the President
first sought 10 determine was whether aid given
in this way would not reach the sufferers sooner
than by means Of the naval supply ships. which
are many days sail from Sicily and Southern
Italy.
The President has directed the state Depart
ment TO ascertain from the Italian government
at what ports IL would be most beneficial for
the battIeships 10 stop on reaching Italian
ters The ships contain medical supplies and
clothing that viii be Of great value to the suf-
ferers. and the object of the inquiry is practi-
caIy to permit the Italian government u name
the ports where the vessels may 60 on their
errand OF mercy. No reply to the inquiry has
yet been received
Money is pouring into the offices of the Amer
lean National Red Cross. and is being teIe-
graphed abroad as fast as received. The New
York Red Cross has teIegraphed $4,000. $4,000
has been teIegraphed from San Francisco, chi
cago sent $40. 600. the Governor Of NassachU-
setts has informed tire National Red Cross that
$50 600 was to be sent u the italian Red cross
from the Bay State. and 100000 has been
cabIed by the National Red cross To- the Italian
society over $4,000 was subscribed here to-day.
$500 OF which came from the plato printers OF
the bureau OF engraving and printing with
promise Of $1,000 more
Baron Mayor des Planches. the Italian Am
bassador, this afternoon transmitted $3.50 70
his personal contribution that of members or
the embassy staff and individuals in Washing
ton who took money TO the embassy with the
request that il be forwarded to the stricken
region as quickly as possible
The proposition that Ernest p Birk1eli. na-
tfonal director Of the American Red Cross, %
sent TO Italy TO co-operate with the Italian f;ed
Cross in relieving distress. has been abandoned
as unnecessary. and Mr. BickneI has been IN
structed 20 continue his trip To san Francisco
Officials here point out the urgent necessity
for promptness in sending contributions IHfy
will be considered as having been made through
the Ped Cross and credit accordingly gwen "a
the books OF that organization
Thanks for American generosity are expressed
in the following telegram received by the I'rtSl-
dent to-day from President MassigHa, oS me
Italian committee at New York city
The Italian central relief committee deeply
touched bv the spontaneous and general mani
festation Of sympathy and human s"lddiitJ
shown bv the great American people IN th9
appaIIing catastrophe which has Gvert;tlen HAY
interpreting the sentiment of All Italians tenders
10 Won and through you 20 the American nation
the exDressiOn of tHeir everlasting gratitude
WI LTLvYV NJ 'fRTNE 81 NJ