Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-08-06
NO SHIPS TO BRING
REFUGEES HOME
Lack of Vessels is the Greatest Diff
ficulty in Handling This
Problem.
TENS OF THOUSANDS MARooNED
President Asks Congress to ApprO-
priate Two and One-HaIf MIL
Hons for Accommodation of
Americans Abroad.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.--President VIII
son and his cabinet and the congress of
the United States, were thorougly alb
sorbed today in plans md Legislative
measures for the relief OF Americans
abroad, the continuation Of trans-Atlan-
tic shipping to move crops and the stab
liking OF domestic financial conditions.
The president asked congress to appro-
pirate $4,000 in addition to the $3.50 coo
granted yesterday for the general ac-
commodation of Americans in Europe.
Action will be taken by both houses to-
morrow.
The armed cruiser Tennessee will sail
Thursday for various European ports
with this sum as well as several mil
lions in gold being sent by New York
bankers, all designed to give Americans
Immediately funds and facilitate their de-
parture.
] Official notice came from the German
government that Americans would not be
permitted to leave the German empire
during the period of army mobilization.
which will continue for another ten days.
Conferences were in progress through
out the day at the State, War and Navy
departments, on details OF relief plans.
A systematic search for steamships TO
carry Americans home was begun.
signs Amending BtII.
President Wilson signed the bill amend
/ ing the Aldrich- Vreeland law, so as to
place more than 81, 600 into domestic
circulation IL desired by the banks and
prevent financial stringency.
The president issued a proclamation OF
neutrality warning subjects of the United
States OF their rights and duties on ac-
count OF the existence of a state OF war
in Austria. Germany. serua, Russia and
France.
Tho American Red Cross decided "a
place its vast army of nurses and physi.
at war
The senate is expected to pass tomorrow
the bill already adopted by the house, ad-
mitting foreign-built ships TO American
registry and assisting thereby in the
maintenance Of American commerce.
The greatest difficulty the officials OF
the State. War. Navy and Treasury de-
partments face in their efforts to relieve
the tens Of thousands of Americans ma
Tooned in the European war zones is the
lack OF ships.
Could Handle $4,000 Only.
As most of the steamship lines are
foreign-owned and transatlantic, traffic
Is virtually at standstill. a canvass OF
available ships revealed that with the
exception of six ocean liners flying the
! American flag and capable OF carryins
about 1000 persons each, there are only
thirty transports, coastwise ships and
other vessels OF American register avail
able for service The latter would carry
about 1000 passengers. so that total Oh
only 5000 people could be transported ac'
cording TO present estimates.
While definite figures are not at hand
II Is estimated at the State department
that OF the 10000 or more Americans In
Europe about 10000 urgently want to re-
turn. The others have money enough "a
stay In Europe until tho second TRIP OF
the fleet Of American steamers Is made.
Should more Americans want to depart
the only thing administration officials
think can be done is 20 charter all the
vessels possible owned by neut' al coun'
tries such as Sweden, Italy, Holland
Norway and South American countries
Army and navy transport and warshipi
have accommodation for only a few
people and probably will not be used.
Naval Golfers to Follow.
Most OF the American coAstwise shipi
will be followed by navy colliers TO fur
nish them with sufficient coal and food
stuffs for their rOuno trip ,"urney
! Continued on Page Three.)