Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-01
May Send Fleet
To Aid in Relief
OfQuake Victims,

greatest humanitarian agents in mod
ern times. Not content with the out
pourings of private charity, it is prob
able that the American government
will direct this great fleet away from
it's progress towards home to the
stricken city of Messina and the 9TH
er Italian ports.
The matter OF dispatchinS the fleet
ON this mission Of mercy is nov under
consideration and a speedy decision In
favor of such employment is expected.
The 10 warships are now making
their way through the Red sea and
should arrive at Port Said on the east
e.n entrance of the Suez canal by Sum
dav. Here the ships will get orders by
cable if they have not previously got
in touch with the cable station at
Port said by wireless. Supplies must
he taken on for the ships are just COM
pleting one Of the longest legs OF their
voyage. namely from Colombo to Suez,
about 3l4o miles or a distance greater
than they will have to cover tc cross
the Atlantic. So the coal hunkers VIII
be nearly empty when the ships make
port. No emergency, however great,
will warrant a Warship In starting Oh
a voyage without sufficient fuel sup
plies to make the next port and as the
distance from SueZ on the western end
of the canal is about 900 miles, the bat
tieships must spend at least two days
somewhere in the canal taking on coal.
Then at least two days probably Will
be spent in passing the 16 ships through
the canal from the Red sea to the Med
iterranean. and altogether the estimate
made at the navigation bureau of the
navy department today was ;hat the
American fleet would reach Mcsslna
about Jan Is. Admiral Sperry may de-
eide however to concentrate the actiV-
tiles of the coaling stations uEon one
or two of the sNyiftest of the ships ana
drive them ahead at full speed to the
scene of the distress in which case 1t
might be possible for the advance
guard to be on the ground by the
eighth or tenth Of January.
With their $1,000 thoroughly discl-
plined American sailors, splendid
corps of medical officers and surgeons
with abundant supply of medicines and
food. it is believed that the American
| fleet will still be a very welcome WISH
| tor to the shores of Sicily even fort
night hence.
The vessels of the Atlantic fleet are
well stocked with provisions. a por-
ton of which could be diverted to the
aid Of the sufferers without serious in
convenience The supply ship Culgos
has accom- panied the vessels on the
trip around the world and has kept
their storehouses filled with the neces-
So ries of life.
For the moment the state depart
ment is awaiting developments before
tanips; action on the question of send
ing any of the battleships of the At
| lantic fleet to italian ports for the rur-
pose of extending relief to the earth
quake sufferers. The first of the ships
is scheduled to arrive at SueZ by Mon
DAY and the department will then be
more fully advised of the situation in
the earthquake zone and will act ac-
cordingly.
Thus far it is said at the state de-
partment. no representation has been
made on the subject to the Italian gov
ernment.
! The gunboat Scorpion now at Con-
stantinople and probably within 4S
hours of Messina. has been directed to
proceed at once to Italy.
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 government the as
Sistance 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
President Roosevelt has for himself and
the American people expressed his SYM
pathy for the people of Italy in the dire
calamity which has befalen them.
Congress will he again in session on
Monday and if there should exist any
doubt at the state and navy departments
as to their authority to utilize any If
the stores aboard the batteships or the
supply vessels for relief purposes this can
he at once cleared up by a joint session
directing such use.
Baron Des Planches, the Italian am
bassador. called on Secretary Root and
Assistant Secretary Bacon today and eX-
pressed the gratitude of government
and people over the sympathy of the
t nited States with Italy in her misfor-
tune.
The Scorpion will be particularly va
uahlc 10 inc american ulplpinat1c ana
consular officers who may feel the neces-
sitv of esing her in going from place to
place in the stricken district and perhaps
in assisting American tourists
Active work on the part of the Ameri-
can Red Cross characterized the day.
President Roosevelt will personally sub
scribe $500 toward the relief fund.
Stored in the holds of the supply ship
Celtic when she steamed out of New
York harbor today were huge quantities
Of fresh meats. fresh vegetables. milk
butter. eggs and canned and dried fruits
and vegetables. but not very large sup
plies of medical supplies. Because of the
immensely OF .Ae disaster the govern
ment will gratefully accept aid from for
eign countries for the sufferers.
Mr.. Griscom. who is going to Messina
says in his dispatch he will be glad to
have few thousand dollars in case it is
necessary for relieving Americans.
Mr.. Griscoms dispatch says that local
newspaper has a telegram this morning
from Messina that Stuart K. Lupton the
American vice consul there. is dead as
we'll Consul Arthur S. Cheney and his
family. Some doubt is expressed at the
dpOartmeOt n tho corroctpeSc tbi,