Evening star., 1914-08-06
GARRISON SEEKS
REFUGEE SHIPS
Angered at Disposition of
American Owners to Dou-
BILE Charter Rate.
WOULD COMMANDER ALL
THE VESSELS REQUIRED

Secretary Also 1IleS TO ODtaln bOatS
From Neutral Nations-Ten-
nessee Sails With Gold.
With the sailing today of the armored
cruiser Tennessee from New York with
from eight to ten millions in gold to
relieve the immediate needs of the thou
sands of American tourists stranded in
the war zone of Europe. this government
bent all its efforts today to obtaining
ships to bring the refugees home.
Secretary Garrison. angered at the dis
position of American steamship companies
to take advantage Of the urgent need for
vessels to charge eNorbtant rentals. made
inquiries to determine if he has authority
to commander commercial vessels. lie
is hopeful that the government can seize
what vessels it may need and arrange
later for payment of a fair compensation
Tor their use.
of chartering foreign vessels of neutral
countries for the transportation home of
stranded Americans.
The armored cruiser North Carolina
will leave Boston tomorrow morning TO
aid the Tennessee in the distribution of
gold in Europe. The North Carolina s
destination has not been determined.
She will take any gold that may hc
shipped to her in time.
General Improvement in the conditions
among Americans abroad was shown to-
day in official dispatches 10 the State De-
partment Urgent appeals for transpor-
tation. however. continued.
Ambassador Herrick reported that the
financial panic has been so far alleNlatet.
in Paris that he recommended the gold
on board the cruiser Tennessee be divert
cd TO other cities in greater need. E. II.
Cary chairman of the relief committee
in Paris. stated that at least 10000 Amer
leans were in need of transportation and
that with present accommodation 1t
would take six months to move them.
Austria Helps Tourists.
From Vienna Ambassador Pentield
telegraphed under date of August 3 that
he was making every effort to get
Americans out of Austria before last
midnight when all transportation was
to be stopped for period of some
weeks The Austrian government has
been running special trains for tourists
from karlsbad and Marienbad to the
capital. The plan was to transport the
foreigners from Vienna TO Trlest ana
bark on Italian vessels. So far there has
been no danger to Americans. but great
Inconvenience. and the Cunarder Car
pathia has already left Flume Tor Malta
with a number aboard
Oscar Strauss and F. !. Kent, repre-
sentatives of the Bankers Trust Com
pany, both members of the relief com
mittee in London. reported that their
work was fully organized. and COM
plete list of all Americans in England
will be issued tomorrow. Need of trans
ports capable of carrying at least 20ooo
people was urged.
Secretary Garrison today expressed
chagrin at the disposition OF certain
American steamship companies 10
charge what he considers eXorbltant
prices for commercial vessels to trans
port Americans. Mr.. Garrison said pre-
liminary inquiries elected the informa-
ton that vessels could be obtained at
about $500 a day. Now the price sud-
denly has been doubled.
For this reason Mr.. Garrison said 1t
will be his purpose first to employ Some o!
the twelve army transports at Calves
ton, already being reftted for trans
atlantic service
Hopes for Neutral Ships.
Secretary Garrison stir is hopeful
that foreign neutral ships may be
brought into the service. Inquiries
concerning Pacific vessels for possible
use developed that nothing there was
more adaptable than on the Atlantic
side II was found also that no ves-
sells were available in the great lakes.
James L. Wilmath. chief clerk of the
Treasury Depa rtment has been chosen
as disbursng officer for the fund Of
S.500.00o appropriated by Congress
for the relief of American citizens ma
rooned in the war zone of Europe
Department MIR. Wilmath left Wash
ington shortly after noon today for
New York city to board the United
states cruiser Tennessee. The Ten
nessee will weigh anchor tonight.
Mr. Wilmath was selected by the
Secretary of the Treasury. William A.
McAdoo, to disburse this fund He has
designated his assistants TO accom-
clerk in the disbursing office of the
Treasury Department, and John Wal
cott an employe of the cashroom OF
the office OF the United State treasurer.
Tennessee Goes to England.
So far as present plans are deter
mined. the destination of the gold
laden cruiser Tennessee, which sets
sail from New York late today. will be
Falmouth. England. That decision was
reached upon receipt of permission
from the British government for the
ship TO put into that port. This viii
furnish :. ready solution of the problem
OF relieving distressed Americans II
England, rs the gold specie will bs
promptly shipped TO London and sucf
other English centers as necessity re-
uQlreS.
No word has come from continental
Europe whether the vessel Will be per-
mitted TO dock when she reaches ports
of the hostile countries. but officials
are hopeful that diplomatic negotia
tions Will adjust that problem before
the Tennessee arrives off the northern
European coast.
If Italy remains neutral. it is pointed
out some of the refugees in the in
terror may be supplied with fund:
through Naples.
Gold Put Aboard Tennessee.
President Wilson last night signed tn