The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-10-30
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AVAIL.
ABLE IF NECESSARY TO
SAVE STARVING NOM
COMBATANT9.
PROVISION SHIP READY TO
SAIL FOR EUROPE At ONCE
Will Give Preliminary Aid While Com.
mission Investigates Needs Of
Country at First Hand and
Makes Report on Best
Way to Handle Relief.

y ~
Foundation has determined to employ
it's immense resources for the relief
of non-combatants in the countries
afflicted by the war and stands ready
to give millions of dollars if neces-
sary" for the purpose. This was an
nounced by John d. Rockefeller, Jr..
president of the foundation.
Will Get Report First.
In pursuance of this philanthropy
the foundation will send a commission
to Europe in a few days to report
first hand as to how, when and where
aid can be rendered most effectively.
At a cost of 1926. 900 it already has
chartered a ship and loaded it with
1000 tons of provisions for the relief
of the starving Belgians.
This action is taken.' Mr.. Rookie
Teller says, "as a natural step in full.
filling the chartered purposes of the
foundation, namely, to promote the
well being of mankind throughout the
world"
Sails Direct to Rotterdam.
The ship is the M~assapequa, the
largest neutral vessel now in New
York harbor, and it will sail direct to
Rotterdam with a certification from
the British consul at New York that
its cargo is destined for the use Of
Belgian non-combatants only and
should not be delayed in transit. The
supplies are consigned TO the Ameri.
can consul at Rotterdam and will be
distributed by the Belgian Relief Com.
mission.
Mr.. Rockefeller has been in com
munication with Ambassador Page a.
London and made public a cabIegram
in which the ambassador describes
the dire need of the Belgians and says
that 1T will require 1000. 900 a month
for seven or eight months to prevent
starvation"
Many Sure to Starve.
'1n fact the ambassador said.
many will starve now before food
can reach them" He added that the
British government forbids the export
of food and that none can be bought
on the continent.
1t was in response to this urgent
message and a similar one from H.. c..
Hoover Of the American relief com.
mittee in London that the Foundation
decided to send a relief ship at the
earliest possible moment"
Mr.. Rockefeller makes clear in his
announcement that whatever steps are
taken by the Foundation in the admin.
istration Of its relief work will be lab.
solutely neutral"
Headed by Wickliffe Rose.
The commission OF investigation will
be headed by Wickliffe Rose, director
general Of the International Health
Commission and will visit the several
countries affected by the war. The an
nouncement begins:
1t having become clear that one OF
the most terrible and appalling effects
of h war will fall upon the non-com-
batants-those most innocent Of any
part in the cause or the conduct of the
conf1ict-the Rockefeller Foundation
has determined to exert itself to the
extent, If necessary, OF millions OF dol
lars for the relief of non-combatants in
the various countries involved.
Writes American Ambassador.
Il have written the American am.
bassador in London that We foresee
the probability that large resources
will be very much needed for rehabili-
tation at a time when the resources
now being drawn upon for the immedi-
ate relief will be perhaps very nearly
exhausted. Under the circumstances,
we feel the need of future advice
I'm order to obtain expert opinion az
to the time, place and means OF rem.
dering aid most effectively. the Foun.
dation has arranged to send to Europe
within the next few days a commission
which shall visit the countries affected
and advise us first hand.
ITO avoid delay and provide relief
at the earliest possible moment for
the suffering people Of Belgium, the
Foundation has chartered the largest
neutral ship available in New York
harbor and purchased a full cargo OF
supplies to be dispatched immediate.
w."