Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03
PRESIDENT OFFERS
SHIPS AND SUPPLIES
TO HELP ITALIANS
Acts Without Waiting Word
From Congress.
TWO VESSELS UNDER WAY
Announcement Made in Telegram to
Relief Committee.
WHOLE FLEET AT DISPOSAL
Services of Sixteen Battleships Of
fered the italian Government
Without Reserve-Plan of
Distribution.

president Roosevelt last uGEt an
nounced that he has sent two supply ships
with 100000 worth OF supplies to Italy.
that lic will ask Congress for additional
aid and that lie has offered the use of the
hattleship feet to Italy.
The announcement was made in tele-
gram, made public at the White House,
which ne sent 10 Patrick McGowan chair
man OF the American-Italan general re-
lief committee. New York city. The tele-
gram follows:
'I earnestly wish success TO the Amer
iCan-Italian general relief committee in its
great mass meeting at Madison Square
Garden. IT is of course not possible for
me TO attend in person. | am doing
everything that can be done TO get aid to
the suffering. and on account of the ex-
treme urgency of the case have sent two
supp'y ships with three hundred thou
sand dollars worth of food and provi-
sions without waiting for the authority
of Congress. being confident that Con-
gross will approve of my action. / shall
also ask Congress for additional aid and
throughout the coming week will keep in
the closest touch with Congress, and.
through the State Department, with Italy,
so that everything possible to be done by
the United States may be done
Furthermore | have cabled the Italian
government proffering the services of any
or al of the battleship feet if such can
lie of use in this crisis.
Signedl THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
The suggestion that Ernest p BicknelI,
national director OF the American Red
Cross, be sent to Italy to cooperate with
the Italian Red Cross in relieving the dis
tress in southern Italy has been aban-
doned as unnecessary under existing con-
ditions, and Mr.. Bicknell has been in
structed to continue his trip 10 San Fran
cisco.
Writing Message to Congress.
Presiden; Roosevelt was engaged last
night in preparing his special message to
Congress, to be presented to that body
when it convenc5 Monday, recommending
suitable action on the part of this gov
crnment TO express its substantial sym
pathy with the earthquake sufferers. A
large amount of data on precedents on
tire aid being rushed from various quar-
tors had been prepared for the President
and was gone over carefully by him and
Secretary Loeb.
When the President began his task the
most pcrplexing problem was whether he
should recommend the diversion of the
supplies on the Celtic and the Cugoa de-
signed for the fleet Of battlcships now in
the SueZ canal or whether he should ask
for direct appropriation of S3Oa.0Oo to
b. made Immediately available for the
relief
Tie data prepa red for him showed that
IN the Mount Pelee catastrophe the gov
ernncnt appropriated 500 900 for the re-
lief OF the sufferers. A committee of dis
tnguisHed citizens was designated to
visit the scene and disburse the money
similar plan appealed very strongly to
the President. certain notifications being
suggested. such as the selection of com
mittee of Americans now in Italy or the
delegation Of the American ambassador
o. agents OF the Red Cross to attend to
tie disbursement of the money. Tie
question which the President sought to de-
termine was whether aid given in this
way would not reach the sufferers sooner
than by means of the naval supply ships
now on the Atlantic but many davs' sail
from Sicily and southern Italy.
Ambassador Cables Money
The intense interest in the disaster was
reflected by deeds in other quarters of the
city Mayor des Planches, The Italian
ambassador. yesterday afternoon trans
ni:ted 20 Rome s. 800 for the relief work.
This sum included his personal contribu-
ton. that of members of the embassy
Staff and individuals in Washington who
brought money TO the embassy with the
request that IL be forwarded 10 the
stricken region as quickly possible
Should the Italian government conclude
10 utilize the services OF the American
hattlcship fleet a formidable armada of
rglief would he on the waters adjacent
10 the stricken district. The sixteen bat
tcshps. with crews aggregating over
lJo+o meu are now headed for Port said
on the eastern entrance OF the Suez canal
aad are expected there by tomorrow. and
there the ships win await instructions
from Washington.
The Two supply ships referred 10 by
PESsidcEt Roosevelt in his telegram are
the Celtic and the Culsoa. The Celtic
Thursday. and will proceed as rapidly as
possible TO MesSina. touching At GibraI-
tar. which Is the destinatio given in the
Navy Department announcements of
movements of vessels. The tulgoa is AT
Suez awaiting the arrival Of the fleet The
battleships, II ordered 10 the relief of the
sufferers. would have a lap Of about $50
miles 10 cover from Sucz 10 Messiua
The sunboat scorpion is already OF her
way 10 MesS.na and is due there by Mon
day al the latest.
President and Speaker Confer.
Speaker Cannon conferred with the
President at the Iatter's invitation last