The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-01
American Fleet Going to
 Messina. ON A MISSION OF MERCY
 THE BIG SHIPS WILL co Officers, Sailors and Surgeons ioss Rescue Wofk. whh Asu.sa.t suppAss es ,as1sssas a.a Fesa the Fleet win Ds weIce.s yisitsr te TAs
 shere ef sicily.


 poses of destruction. may after all have to go down in history as one of the greatest humanitarian agents in modern times.
 Not content with the outpourings of private charity. 1t Is probable that the American government will direct thI8 great fleet away from its own mari- time progress towards homo to the stricken city of Messina and the other Italian ports where devastation be- people themselves to repair. has been brought by earthquake and tidal wave.
 The matter of dispatching the fleek on this mission of mercy Is now under consideration and a speedy deefsfon in favor of such employment is expected The fifteen wsrships are now making their way through the Red Sea and arr rive at Port Said onl the eastern en- trance of the Sues canal by SundAy. Hero the ships will get orders by ca ble, if need. they have not previously been in touch with the cable station with Port Said by wireless.
 Supplies must be taken on.l after completing one of the longest legs of the remarkable voyage. namely from e distance greater than they will have to cover to cross the Atlantic. So the coal bunkers will be nearly empty when the ships make Port. No era- ergency however great will warrant a warship in starting on voyage with- out sufficient fuel supplies to make the next port as the distance from Sucz on the western end of the canal is about 800 miles, the battieshsps must spend st least two days somewhere in the canal taking On coal. A full sup-I ply will be required because 1t ia quite certain that the port of Messing is no longer in position to supply fuel for marine use.
 Then two days probably wili be canal to the Mediterranean The navi-l gation bureau of the navy depart- ment today announced that the Amert- can Neet Would reach Messina probab- Fly about January lk. Admtrai sperry may decide to oacencentrAte the Ec<1vs@' ties es the cosIing stations Rfd tho and drive them ahead at fun speed ft thf scene of the distresa- in which case it may be possible for the adra11cx guard to be on the ground b5 fhf eighth or tenth of January.
 With their 1k,oa0 thoroughly dtsct plined American sailors; spiendi< corps of medical, officers and surgeons;
 
 and food. 1t Is believed the American fleet win be a very welcome visitor to, the shore of Sicily even fortnight hence.
 The matter of greatest importance fs the transmission of money contrihu-' tions which will make Is possible to throw into the stricken region with in day or two abundant food and medical supplies. It is thought that the active assistance that might Do rendered by 5000 thoroughly trained seamen under the direction of their officers who could act in concert with the Red Cross authorities would be of the greatest benefit to the suffering people. The vessels of the feet are. we'll stocked with provisions. . portion of which could be diverted to the aid of the sufferers.
 Disposition oS Fleet. A memorandum showing the location and proposed disposition of the Atlantic fleet is now before the state department for use when the decision is announced to offer the Italian govern the assistance of these vessels and their crews in caring for the sick and wounded.
 For the time being the matter has not been taken up with the Italian government. The navy department has asked the commanding officer of the Culgoa as to the condition of his stores but after careful examination the officials are inclined to think there are no more aboard than are neees- sary to supply the larders of the six teen batteships.
 Congress will be again In session on Monday and if there should exist any doubt at the state and navy depart- ments as to their authority any of the stores on board the battiesaips or the supply vessels for relief purposes. | this can be at once cleared up by a joint resolution, directing such use. It is not for a moment doubted by oGl- cials that prompt consent will be given
 to the Immediate passage of such q measure.
 Baron des Ranches. the Italian Am bassador, called on Secretary Root and assistant secretary Bacon today and expressed the gratitude of his ! government and people over the sym pathy of the United States with Italy | in her misfortune.
 The Scorpion. which is ordered to
 render all service possible. will be | particularly valuable perhaps to ths
 American diplomatic and consular ofti- eers. who may feel the necessity -of using her in going from place to place | in the stricken district and in assist ing any American tourists who may
 have been injured or have lost every l thing from the earthquake. Aside | from this it Is also desirable that
 the American flag should. be repre-
 sented In Italian waters during these l times.
 Active work on the part of the | American Red Cross characterized ths l day. Approximately $100,000 already | has been made available by 1t from
 previous funds or has been promised. | much of which already has been sable l to the American Embassy at Rome Ca be turned over to the Italian Red | Gross Society. That society, the | Italian Embassy at Washington re- | ports, Is the organization throuHh ! which all relief for earthQuaike s0f- | ferers will be administered The | governors of Illinois. Mississippi. Nav | York, Virginia and New Hampshfrs | have issued appeals for contributfona |