Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-04
100000 SENT.
President Sends Relief to Italian
Earthquake Victims.

Earthquake Victims.
Washington. Jan. 3.-President
Roosevelt announced Saturday night
that he has sent two supply ships
with 100000 worth of supplies to
Italy; that he will ask Congress for
additional aid; that he has offered the
use of the battlesllip fleet to Italy.
The announcement was MADE i'll Il
telegram made public at the White
House, which was sent to Patrick F.
McGowan. chairman OF the American
Italian general relief committee, New
York City The telegram follows:
Il earnestly wish success to the
American-Italian general relief COM
mittce in it's great mass meeting at
Madison Square Garden. 1t is of
course not possible for me to attend
in person. I am doing everything that
can be done to get aid to the suffering,
and on account of the extreme urgen-
CIV of the case have sent two supply
ships with 100000 worth Of food and
provisions without waiting for the au-
thority of Congress, being confident
that Congress Will approve 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 de-
partments with Italy, so that every
thing possible to be done by the United
States may be done.
Furthermore, I havei cabled the
Italian government proferring the SER
vice of any or al the battleship feet
if such can be of use in this crisis.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
President Roosevelt was engaged to-
night in preparing the message which
will be presented to Congress when it
convenes Monday. A large amount of
data on precedents and on the aid which
is being rushed from various quarters to
southern Italy and the means of getting
succor to the victims, had been prepared
for the President and was considered
carefully by him.
1t showed that in the Mount Pelee ca
tastrophe the government appropriated
$500 900 for the relief of the sufferers. y
committee of prominent citizens was des-
ignated to visit the scene and to disburse
the money. A similar plan appealed very
strongly to the President. certain modi-
ficationS being suggested, such as the Sc
lection of a committee Of Americans now
in Italy or the delegation OF the Ameri-
can ambassador or agents of the Red
Cross. to attend to the disbursement of
the money. The question which the
President first sought to determine was
whether aid given in this way would not
reach the sufferers sooner than by means
of the naval supply ships now on the At
lantic. but many days sail from Sicily
and southern Italy.
Money is pouring into the offices of the
American National Red Cross and is be-
ing telegraphed abroad as fast as receiv-
ed. The New York Red Cross has tele-
graphed 5000 to the National Red Cross
and the governor of Massachusetts has
informed the National Red Cross that
$50 900 was to be sent to the Italian Red
Cross from the Bay State; 100000 has
to the Italian society.
The suggestion that Ernest Ricllncll. di-
rector of the National Rcr Cross. be sent
to Italy to cooperate with the Italian
| Rcd Cross in relieving the distress in
Southern Italy has been abandoned as
| unnecessary under existing conditions.
In response to the suggestion of the
| Italian Red Cross Society that a vessel
he loaded at Genoa with provisions ami
| sent to the scene of the earthquake dis
| trct, thus quickly relieving the destitute,
| the American Red Cross cabled 100000 to-
night with the instruction that it could
| be used by the Italian Red Cross Society
| for the purpose of fitting out ship with
! provisions and medical supplies. This
| amount is in addition to the 100000 and
| the $4,000 previously sent by the Amer
| lean Red Cross.
BY sending the money instead of under
taking to provide for the shipment of
supplies the American Red Cross adopted
what is regarded as the best method for
meeting the emergencies which face the
| Italian Red Cross. They believe that the
Italian society will he able to make the
| arrangements more promptly than could
| be done by anyone else.
In order that the American Red Cross
Society might have a personal represent
alive on the scene of the earthquake Vice
Consul Bayard Cutting at Milan is now
at the earthquake region. having been
sent there by Ambassador Griscom,
| Baron Mayor Des Planches. ambassa-
dor from Italy. has received instructions
/ from his government to express to Pres
| ident Roosevelt the thanks of the Italian
government for the generous sympathy
| extended by President Roosevelt and tho
people of the United States to the Italian
nation. The ambassador will call upon
| the President and express these senti-
ments of his government At the Italian
| embassy today it was announced that
| further subscriptions for the sufferers in
Sicily and Calabria would be received by
the Italian ambassador and Baroness