The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-02
PLANNING TO RELIEVE
AMERICANS ABROAD
Army and Navy Transports May BE
Sent to Bring Home Stranded
Nationals.
WILSON AND BRYAN coNFEI
Government Prepared to Ship Gold
il Necessary to Supply Those in
Want Because of War-SeriOus
Problem Admitted.

Washington, August 1.-Activc meas
ures for the relief OF many thousands
of Americans in distress i'll Europe for
have been begun By President Wilson
! and Secretary Bryan.
The President and Secretary of State
conferred tonight on getting money
to citizens abroad.
The llmin: gtratioaS lbs Iindcr corsid :
eratiCn sending army End mn v-stiYsna-
ports TO carry Americ9 a refugees and
a special request to Congress for an
appropriation is expected to be made.
The President and Mr.. Bryan dis
cussed several plans. but will not make
t!:'al decision until tomorrow. when
they Will confer again and get the
opinion OF bankers, who usually serve
the state Department abroad in nor :
NAL times.
IL necessary, the government Is PFC
pnred 10 send American vessels abroad
"iti: gold for the relief of .imc,;cnns
Immediately after the conference with
the President, Mr.. Bryan :ablol nil
consulatcs. Legations and Embassies to
spare no pains in caring for Americans
who remained in the war zones and
giving every facility to those who
wished to leave.
PLIGHT OF AMERICANS =
Is SERIOUS PROBLEM
= State Department officials admitte ed
the most serious problem confronting
them was the plight of Americans
abroad. They estimated that at least
100000 and perhaps 100000 are scat
tered throughout Europe. The disor-
sanization of%European exchange has
made II practically impossible to cJfsh
checks or letters OF credit. American
consuiates, legations and embassies
are devoid Of funds for the emergency
- hsNg .t.l.a t,1,.
TREY are being besieged on all sides
with requests for financial assistance.
With the circulation by several
steamship lines Of their sailings many
Americans find themselves unable to
get passage OH the overcrowded boats
OF American register.
special appropriation would he re-
quested 10 charter steamships to bring
home Americana.
Many applications were received at
the, State Department to-day from
persons In the United States desirous
~ having American consuls report
upon the safety of friends and rela-
tives In Europe. The State Department
is returning the uniform answer that
under their general. instructions the
consuls will report the case of. any
Americans iii distress in their respec-
tive districts.
EMBASSY yERITABLE
HOUSE OF REFUGE
Especial Gable to The Times Dispatch. l.
Berlin, August l.--Tho American
embassy tonight is veritable' house
of refuge for number of semifrantic
Americans, who, pennilcss, although in
possession of checks. letters of credit
and foreign bank notes which cannot be
negotiated. would have been forced to
spend the night in the streets had not
the embassy opened its doors TO than
Mrs Gerard, wife Of the ambassa-
dor. is the heroine of the hour, she
having constituted herself the good
angel of number of American wom-
ep, mostly school teachers and unac-
companicd tourists. who reached the
embassy to-day In state bordering
upon hystcria.
packed with a frantic throug Of Uncle
Sans subjects with varying stories
of trouble and maltreatment They
had to be formed In line and quietct
before their tales could be heard and
relief and advice given. Mrs. Gerard
took personal chargS Of all troubled
women. continuing her ministrations
until a late hour tonight. The strain
on the embassy staff Is beginning to
tell, and every one is ,drowsy for lack
OF sleep.
The ambassador is advising all who
have tho funds TO go to Holland or
Belgium immediately Many left to-
day In automobiles for these countries,
after obtaining passports. To those
unable To leave for lack of money
shelter was offered until they can
leave, Hs.t7s
Berlin is comparatively quiet to-
night, following the Kaiser's appeal for
moderation in talk ana action.
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