New-York tribune., 1914-12-22
C0NTRABAND LAW
HOLDS UP RELIEF
Medical Supply Shipment
Halted to Await Diplo-
mats Decision.
PHYSICIANS SUSPECT
UNFAVORABLE REPLY
Mrs. Wharton Sends Appeal for
Aid for New American
Refugee Hotels.

A shipmer. Of medical supplies gath
cred for the relief Of the civilian popu-
lation Of Belgium is being held up
pending advices from diplomatic
sources as 10 whether such shipments
would be considered contrsband. Inc
American Committee 20 Aid the Bel
gian Profession, which collected the
supplies. sent cable message yester-
day 10 Herbert c. Hoover London
chairman of the American Commission
for Relief in Belgium, asking informa-
tion on that point.
Members Of the physicians and
surgeons committee, which collected
the supplies and packed them IN fifty
pound cases, expressed some doubt as
10 whether medical supplies, even " o.
o character more suitable for civilians
than for soldiers, would be included
by the belligerents i'm the same class
with food and clothing. The work OF
preparing the supplies was undertaken
by medical men in the United states
when word was received that the BEL
gians were suffering from shortage
Of medicines and supplies.
A cable message received yesterday
from the London commission said that
the Cranley. the third ship 10 sail from
the Pacific Coast under the supervision
of the relief commission, had started
from Hong Kong. She was chartered
20 carry $500 tons Of cargo. She VIII
stop at Tacoma, Seattle, Portland, san
Francisco and San Pedro. She Will
pick up some Of the cargo which mas
teen given by the Washington ana
Oregon committees and some OF the
cargo left over from the steamship
Canine. which recently left San Fran
cisco for Rotterdam by way OF the
Panama Canal.
Mrs. Edith Wharton, IN letter re-
ceived yesterday by Norman Hapgood'
Of the Committee of Mercy, asks this
country TO act as Sister or charity
in the European war. Mrs. Wharton
is especially interested IN raising
funds TO establish American hotels m
Paris for refugees. Her letter is as
follows;
your note the other day came. tele-
pathically. at the very moment when !
was preparing 10 send cry for help 20
America. Nothing can eXaggerate the
hopeless horror of the Belgian plight,
and we Americans must do something
TO remedy il. and must do II quickly.
Hence my impassi0ned cable.
America can't keep out of this con-
fict. and she must act as sister Of
charity TO the nations who arc nghtlng
10 defend all the things they care for.
All the Americans here feel this, and
are doing everything in their power 10
show il. Five minutes after had sug-
gested the idea of group Of American
hostels for refugees my committee was
formed. and offers of help were pour
ing in. but there are not many Amcrl-
cans here, and We can't hope TO raise
anything like the money we need un-
less you will give US hand
On Mrs WhsrtOu's committee are
Mrs. r. W. Bliss, Mrs Edward Tuck,
Mrs. Walter Gay. Miss Spoford,
Charles Du Bos. George Munroe and
Henri Dequis Mrs. Tuck has given a
house. with forty beds, and $1,000. The
Comtesse de Berthier has offered a
house accommodating 100. Contribu-
tions should be addressed TO Munroe &
Co., Rue Nentadour. Paris.
The Committee of Mercy Fund yes
terday reached SS7,9Sl. The proceeds
Of Mrs. Patrick Campbell's perform
ance under the auspices Of the Stage
Society amounted to 81 1853. Walter
Jennings, Of 26 Broadway, gave 500.
Contributions amounting to S4,236 30
were received by the Belgian Relief
Fund yesterday. Among them were:
Citizens of Little Rock Ark, S537 so;
through "Wallace's Farmer" Sl63 OF;
Mrs. W. b. Davenport, $50; Alfred +.
Hall, 500: A. Willis. 500; part pro-
ceeds Of dance by Nine. Louis Bus
tanoby. $500: Mrs Marion A. Snow
den. 5000; providence Journal fund,
S133 50: citizens Of Washington. y. J.,
S126 10; Mrs. L. II. Cozant, Sll9; W.
A. Merchant, 500; Payson Merr'l,
800: women of Fairfield. Conn, Co.,;
private sale by Mrs. Charles Hoffman
Paul Nande Nelde. 500.
Miss Alice VI. Longfellow gave ST.
100 Yesterday to the American Ambu-
lance Hospital 20 buy an automobile
ambulance, send 10 TO ParlJ and ain
tain il for SIX months. Other con-
tributions brought the fund to S22l,
827 o..
The Dollar Christmas Fund mount
cd to S45 5O2 yesterday. l. 5. A., Texas
City. gave $3.50; Flushing, Long Island,
sly; "The Belding Banner Sl2i; l..
S. A, West Point, Sl2O.
The Prince Of Wales National Relief
Fund now amounts TO S98,319 90. Jonn
+. Muir. treasurer Of the British I'm
uerial Club, reports that contributions
valued at Sll,32O have been sent
abroad. and that the cash on hand
amounts 70 S5.039 20.