The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-03-28
COVER NMENT AID
BEING HURRIED
into OHIO
President Wilson Alert to Trying
Situation
GARRISON ON THE WAY
All Departments at Washington
Issue Orders to Aid In Relief
Work.

Washington, March 2S.-President
Wilson yesterday threw open the re-
sources of the federal government to
the homeless thousands fighting
against water, flame and famine in
Ohio and Indiana. More than $780,
600 already has been expended and
the president is determined that no
red tape shall stand in the way of in
slant relief everywhere. Secretary
Garrison of the war department left
yesterday on orders from the presi-
dent to survey the situation in Ohio
and direct the governments relief
expeditions and Mr.. Wilson announc-
ed that If communication with the
food districts continued imperfect
and the presence of the chief execu-
tive was required to issue emergency
executive orders he would go to the
zone of the disaster himself.
The president did little else yes
terday besides his work on the food
situation, and is ready to set aside
other business before him to assist
the authorities of Ohio and Indiana.
Today the entire situation will be
canvassed by the cabinet.
Postmaster-General Burleson is
contemplating quick journey to
Ohio If the mail situation is not soon
improved. Mail routes across the
continent are badly affected and the
task OF disentangling the mail SER
vice to points in Ohio and Indiana,
untouched by floods. will be a ire
mendous one. Assistants are being
ordered to the flood region from near
by cities and stamps and supplies are
being rushed to places which have
lost their stock in the floods.
The navy department issued orders
to its recruiting stations in the CEN
tral West to send it's marines, physi-
clans and officers trained in rescue
work to cooperate with the army
medical STATS. Power boats and
yawls were dispatched from naval
stations on the great lakes.
Secretary McAdoo of the treasury
department sent Surgeon-General
Rupert Blue of the United States pub
lie health service to the food area
and placed at the disposal of the gov
errors of Ohio and Indiana all Unit
ed States life-saving stations in
those states. Secretary McAdoo also
valves customs regulations SO that
relief supplies could enter free from
canada. Secretary Redfeld of the
department of commerce ordered all
available boats in the lighthouse ser
vice near the Ohio river to take part
in the relief work.
But while every government de-
partment did its utmost the bulk of
the days orders came from the war
department and the Red Cross, which
organization distributed its agents and
nurses throughout the afflicted terri.
tory. With Secretary Garrison went
Maj-Gen Wood, chief of the staff of
the United States army. Quarter
master-General Aleshire, and a staff
OF officers, physicians and surgeons.
A signal corps detachment consisting
of Maj. Edgar Russell, master signal
electricians and operators, Joined
the party at the last moment. The
train, which consisted of a baggage
car, sleeper and diner. left Washing
ton at p. m, over the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad. and was due in
Chillicothe at a. m. today.
More signal corps men we're to be
picked up at Columbus barracks.
making up a complete field party
equipped with wireless telegraph and
field apparatus, flags and lights, so
that communication may be opened
through the isolated districts.
Commissioner OF Education Clax-
ton issued an appeal to the teachers
and school officers throughout the
country to receive contributions and
send them to DR.. William M. David
son, superintendent of schools at
Washington.