Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-08-06
STRENUOUS EFFORT
TO BRING 100000
AMERICANS HOME

Washington, Aug 4.-Relief Cor the
lens Of thousands Of Americans In the
var zones of Europe will be extended
through every power and influence at
the disposal Of the United States govern
n1ent Millions In gold will be sent on
4 warshp for immediate needs, and as
many ships as can possibly be gathered
from the American costwise trade and
from neutral nations will be utilized in
an effort to bring the 10000 Americans
In Europe back home.
Officials of the State, war. navy and
treasury departments conferred together
in plans TO coordinate the work. For
immediate relief, President Wilson ask ed
Congress to appropriate s2,5oo.0oo. This,
together with the s25oxo appropriated
yesterday by Congress, will be shipped
abroad on the armored cruiser Tennessee
Bankers and express companies also will
send five to eight millions of gold on the
Tennessee to cash checks, letters OF
credit etc. The Tennessee will carry
government officials charged with the
duty Of distributing quotas of gold at
the principal European ports for the use
If the American diplomatic bureaus in
aiding stranded Americans.
The transportation problem has not
been as yet settled, as most of the
steamship lines are foreign owned and
transatlantic traffic is virtually at a
standstill y canvass of available ships
revealed that with the exception VI six
ocean liners flying the American flag
and capable Of carrying about one thou
sand persons each, there are only 80
transports coastwise ships and other
vessels Of American register available
for services. The latter would carry
about seven thousand passengers, so that
total of only 1900 people could be
transported. according to present estl-
mates.
10000 WANT PASSAGE.
While definite figures are not ct hand,
It is estimated at the state department
that Of the 100000 or more Americans in
Europe about twenty thousand urgently
want to return. The others have money
enough to stay in Europe until the sec
ond trip of the feet of American steam
ars is made
Should more Americans want TO de-
part, the only thing administration eff
Gals think can be done Is to charter all
the vessels possible owned by neutral
countries such as Sweden. Italy, Hol-
and. Norway and South American coun-
tries Army and navy transports and
warships have accommodations for only
few people and probably will not be
used.
Most Of the American coastwise ships
will be followed by navy Golfers TO fur
nish them with sufficient coal and food
stuffs for their round trip journey.
Details Of the transportation problem
will not be worked out for several days
as the search for ships viii require an ex-
haustive canvass by cable and telegraph
Secretary Garrison, however voiced the
view of administration officials that there
was no particular reason for alarm.
There can he no peril to Americans
abroad he said las the first duty and
thought of each of the WarinE nations
would he TO look out for safety of for
eigners. particularly the citizens OF the
United States, with whom all the beliger-
ents are at peace We have all the ia Gill;
ties to handle the situation with equanim-
lty and do not feel disturbed In the slight
est degree about It,"