Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-01-06
BATTuESHlP FLEET ON RESCUE
MISSION TO DEVOTE STORES
TO RELIEF.
FUNDS BEING RAISED IN LARGE
SUMS IN THE LARGER
CITIES
RED CROSS SOCIETY ACTIVE
GOVERNORS APPEAL TO
CITIZENS.

Washington, Jan. IA memoran-
dunn showing the location and pro-
|posed disposition of the Atlantic fleet
is now before the state department for
use when the decision is announced to
offer the Italian government the assist
anee of these vessels, and their crews
in caring for the sick and wounded
President Roosevelt has for himself
and the American people expressea
sympathy for the people of Italy IN
the calamity which has befallen them,
and this government is anxious to do
anything it can to relieve the distress
and to succor the helpless.
Congress will be in session Monday
and if there should exist any doubt at
the state and the navy departments
as to their authority to utilize any of
the stores on board the battleshiys or
supply vessels for relief purposes, this
can be at once cleared up by a joint
resolution directing such use. 1t Is
not for a moment doubted by officials
that prompt consent will be gwen to
the immediate passage OF such a
measure.
The Italian ambassador called at the
state department yesterday and ex.
pressed the gratitude of his govern
ment and people over the sympathy Of
the United States with Italy in her
misfortune He is profoundly graft
fed at the many touching evidences
of regard for his people and for the
aid that is being rendered through the
American Red Cross.
The Scorpion, which is ordered to
render all the service possible, will be
particularly valuable to the American
diplomatic and consular officers. who
may feel the necessity of using her in
going from place to place in the strick-
en- district and assisting any Ameri-
can tourists who may have been in
jured or have lost everything from
the earthquake. Aside from this it
is also desired that the American flag
should be represented in italian wa
ters during these times.
Active work Oh the part of the
American Red Cross characterized the
day. Approximately 100000 alread
has been made available by it. These
funds will be turned over to the Ital-
ian Red Cross society at Rome. THAI
society, the Italian embassy at Wash
ington reports, is an organization
through which all relief for the suf
ferers should be administered. Among
the contributions S $4,000 from the
Anheuser Busch Brewing association
The governors of Illinois. Mississippi
New York, Virginia and New Hamp-
shire have issued appeals for contri-
buttons. President Roosevelt will per-
sonally subscribe $500 toward the re-
lief fund Because of the immensely
of the disaster, the Italian government
will gratefully accept aid from foreign
countries for the sufferers. Mr.. Girls
com, American ambassador at Rome.
made this communication to the state
department yesterday, having received
information to that effect from the
Italian foreign Office. whose officials
think that the estimate of 10000 dead
from the earthquake is not exagger-
ated.
Mr. Griscom is going TO Messina
having been invited and offered steam
ship accommodations from Naples by
the Italian prime minister. He does
so, he says IN order to avail himself
of the exceptional opportunities OF
getting transportation for two or three
consular officers and to profit by the
special opportunities offered him fol
obtaining news.
He will leave Rome tomorrow. TAX
ing with him Vice Consul Cutting
from Milan. who will be placed tempo
rarily in charge of the consulate al
Messina. Mr. Griscom SAYS in his
dispatch that he will be glad to have
a few thousand dollars in case it is
necessary. for relieving Americans
His dispatch, says a local newspaper.
has telegram from Messina which
says that Stuart < Lupton, American
vice consul there. is dead. as we'll as
Consul Cheney and family. whose