Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-05
Millions in Gold Goes on
Warship for the I'M
mediate Needs of
Americans
All Available Vessels Called
Into Service to Bring Back
100000 Residents of This
Country Who Have No Other
Means for Return to Their
Homes-S2,750,000 Starts To-
night on Tennessee

Washington. Aug. 4.-Relief for the
tens of thousands of Americans in the
war zone of Europe will be extended
through every power and influence at
the disposal of the United States gov
eminent. Millions in gold viii be sent
on a warship for immediate needs and
as many ships as can be gathered
from American coastwise trade and
neutral nations will be utilized In an
effort to bring the 100000 Americans in
Europe back home. Officials of the
state, war. navy and treasury depart
ments conferred in plans to cooperate
the work. For immediate relief, Pres
ident Wilson asked Congress to APP
propriate $2,500,000. This, together with
the s250,0o0 appropriated yesterday by
Congress will be started across the
Atlantic tomorrow night on the armor-
ed cruiser Tennessee. Bankers and ex-
press companies also will send five to
eight millions in gold on the Tennessee
to cash checks, letters Of credit, money
orders, etc.
The Tennessee will carry government
officials charged with the duty Of dis
tributing quotas of gold at the prin-
cipal European ports for the use OF
American diplomatic bureaus in aiding
stranded Americans.
The transportation problem has not
been so easily settled as most OF the
steamship lines are foreign owned
and transatlantic traffic Is virtually
at a standstill. A canvass OF available
ships revealed that with the excep-
ton of six liners flying the American
hJn Of
1000 persons each, there are only 80
transports, coastwise ships ana other
vessels of American register avaiia-
BILE for service. The latter would car
~ about 1000 passengers, so that
total of only 10000 people could be
transported, according to present es-
Inmates.
Details of the transportation prob
lem will not be worked out for several
days. as the search for ships will re-
uuire an exhaustive canvass by cable
and telegraph.
To tide over Americans until the
gold being carried by the Tennessee
reaches them. embassy checks are be-
ing issued abroad.
More than $4,000 was deposited at the
-
friends of Americans In Europe who will
receive equivalent sums from American
diplomatic officers in the form of embas-
sy orders or checks,
Secretaries Bryan and McAdoo hasten
ed TO the Capitol after the Presidents
message requesting the $2,e0o,oOo for an
American relief fund had been read IN
both houses. Senator Martin at once
called a meeting of the appropriations
committee and the cabinet ofiiciais ex-
planned for just what purpose the money
was desired. The committee quickly de-
termined to recommend the appropriae
ton, provision for which will originate
in the House appropriations committee
| tomorrow.
With every prospect of it's being passed
by the Senate tomorrow, the bill amend
ing the Panama canal act to provide for
the admission Of foreign-built ships to
American registry foreign trade was re-
ported from the inter-oceanic canal COM
mittee today by Senator oGorham.