New-York tribune., 1914-11-13
RELCIANS GIVE
S3,OOO,OOO FUND
Send Big Check for Their
Countrymen's Aid to
American Committee.
MONEY WILL BE USED
TO TRANSPORT FOOD
statement Tells How Contribu.
tions Should Be Made
Germans Praised.

ro,6on. Nov. l2.-The American
corr,ission for Relief in Belgium has
.,.e;yed a check on the Bank OF Eng
- FOR $4,000, ,000. which was con-
.r;hu,ed By prominent Belgisns inter
...s5 in the relief Of their country
-sr With the emergency work in
p.ls;um well under way, the commits
';cs is now prepared TO assume the
.S,n,anent task Of keeping Belgians
fr,nlie6 with food. In this connection
:, tss made the following statement:
eThe American Commission for Re
rsfNn Belgium to-day received a check
..- e 600 GOO. which il is estimated
Iii Re necessary for the transporta-
.;nr OF foodstufS for the next three
,.opths from various parts of the
rorl6 into Belgium. This money has
hssn advanced 20 the commission un-
Ssr the guarantee given by various
Be'cisn relief committees and impor-
tsrt BClglanS.
@Tbis substantial sum is most con-
,incing evidence Of the desire of the
sslrians themselves 60 assist the COM
mission 20 the fullest extent they are
r,nsble Of doing. The contribution
.lso emphasizes the urgency of the
situation, and as large as the sum il,
!, must be Doyne In mind that food
,,uss 70 the value Of about S4,000,000
uonthly must be secured for seven or
,irh. months or this amount $1,000
Mo monthly Will be required for the
expense Of transport.
Regular Steamship Service.
The commission is arranging for g
yerulsr steamship service from the
Atlantic seSboard and q transport ser
,iee from the interior 10 the seaboard.
The commission urges all local assoel-
atoms and others interested In Belgian
relief throughout the United States TO
ecnyert all their funds into local pur-
ehases Of foodstufis. as they can he
more advantsgeously purchased by
sseh local bodies.
Furthermore. the commission feels
nat those generous American people
Who are unable 20 contribute money
should contribute something from
,heir own stores or supplies into the
hands Of the local organization. Every
.simer from his crop and every resi-
dent from his own store can well al
| ford a few bushels OF grain. What is
| needed is cereals, wheat -four, shelled
com. beans and peas, and also bacon
| and ham-as these are the only artl-
ces that viii stand the long and diffl-
cult transport conditions.
The commission is cooperating in
most cordial manner with other or
carnations and institutions in America
and does not wish TO overlap the ef-
for,s Of any one IL wishes to empha-
size that its functions are the recep-
ion. transportation and distribution
every source. BY the machinery OF
,se commission every pound of food
stufs contributed reaches the Belglans
without cost TO the contributors.
branch Of this commission is being
perfected I'm New York to cooperate
with others. and supplies collected by
the various local organizations at
ssn.rsl points will be received and
transported bv il. This organization
and its personnel will be completed
within 2 few days.
Dutch Officials Aid.
The commission already has deiiv-
ctd an instalment of foodstutfs INTO
he hands Of local relief committees
4 O. virtually every centre IN Belgium,
TIE commission is receiving most
c-5al assistance from the Dutch ON
al, I'm expediting food through Hol-
Ind and most helpful facilities IRON
| 10 German officials in the nature oil
g.. escort from the frontier TO the
| rlious distribution points.
Jarvis L. Bell, OF New York, the hrst
member of the American Comm ssloh
for Relief In Belgium TO return from
Belgium since the distribution OF relle4
bean. states that, instead of hamper
ing The efforts to relieve the starving
p.puls,ion. the German authorizes are
doing THEN utmost TO assist the COM
mission in ITS work.
The Belgian-Dutch border now IS
Practically closed 20 passenger traffic,
only persons on official business being
permitted 10 pass. but members OF the
commission are allowed to travel back
aud forth without the slightest nm
Crsnce.
In Belgium the shipments of food
siufs consigned to the American MIN.
isier, Brand Whitlock, and IN care Of
he commission, are permitted 10 pro
eeed with minimum delay. The Ger
nan officials have treated the members
Of the commission with great consid-
trstion.
Philadelphia. Nov. 12.-The food ship
lhelms, bearing 1900 tons. Of food
| s.ufs for the starving people IN BEL
gium, sailed from this port to-day Tor
Rotterdam, from which point her cargo
vii be distributed.
The departure was made impressive
By the attending ceremonies. Mayor
Blankenburg and distinguished cltizena
we're On the wharf, and a great throng
Of people watched the little Norwegian
snip as she steamed down the Delaware
River on her crrand of mercy. A Dand
played "Thc Star Spangled Banner
and La Brabaconne," the national an
men Of Belgium.
The sending of the food was made
possible by the generosity of the people
o. Philadelphia. One citizen paid the
expenses Of the ship, and contributlohs
ranging from one cent 20 S1,OOO bought
ne cargo.
The Thelma carries 946 tons Of flour
n SO-pound sacks. 10 tons OF corn'
~ Of tomatoes. 100 Of salt, 100 OF bar
ley, so Of beans and so of rice, other
e'snned goods making up the remainder
ne cost of all being Sl04,OOO. MuGh
more than this sum has been contrib
s'ed, and committee is arranging 10
send another ship.
-- -
In the Berkshires.