Evening star., 1914-08-13
Committee of American Resi-
dents Concludes There Has
Been Exaggeration.
FULLY 81 PER CENT
HAVE THEIR OWN FUNDS
Removal of Those on the Continent
Of Europe Is, However,
Big Problem.

LONDON, August 1S.-In view OF the
nature of the cablegrams reaching Lon.
don from the United States the commit
tee of American residents is forced tc
conclude that an exaggeration has beer
made in some cases regarding the number
of Americans reputedly stranded and in
distress and supposed to be suffering.
Herbert c. Hoover of California, the
chairman of the committe said today
there were not more than 10000 Amer
leans in England at the present moment
who were desirous of returning home.
"Fully 81 per cent of these he said
''are able under the conditions now pre-
vailing to finance themselves and only
3 per cent Of the Americans in England
in reality are stranded.
1.-THE committees fund is more than
amply taking care Of the destitute Ameri-
cans and it is my belief that not more
than $4,000 OF 100000 of government
money will be required to provide fol
them.
The position of Americans on the
continent" Mr.. Hoover continued, sis
different, larger proportion Of them
being students or others of minor re-
sources. When they are able to escape
from the war territory they will be
virtually destitute both Of cash and
credit. The committee, however. does
not believe that these will exceed
to be much smaller. The removal OF
these people from the continent is a
problem still to be solved"
Season On in Switzerland.
The fashionable season in Switzer-
land was at it's height when war was
declared. and as result more than
10000 English and American tourists
are stranded in that country. The
British minister at Berne has issued
the following proclamation:
During mobilization travel through
France is impossible, and tourists are
recommended to remain where they are
until it is possible to arrange tor transit. :
Many tourists are hard pressed for the
bare necessities of life. Some are trying
to borrow small amounts on their letters
of credit, these being often for large
sums.
The British minister has asked the
French government to take steps to
provide transportation for these visit
ors. The French government replies
that this will be impossible until the
a special train service will be arranged
May Not Go to Berlin.
The pending battle will, it is believed
here, render futile the plans of the
delegation to Germany under the lead
of John H. Finley. commissioner Of
education of New York, to relieve dis
tressed Americans there.
After a consultation with Ambassa- :
dor Walter Hines Page, the committee
temporarily abandoned its plans. Mr..
Page Is unable to send money to Ger
many, but he has received assurances
through the American minister at The
Hague that the cases Of distress among
Americans in Germany have been much
exaggerated.
1t is officially declared here that the
only steps taken by the British govern
ers in the British Isles were those pro-
vided for by the sections of the aliens
restriction act, the object of which
was to safeguard the country agains,
aliens from countries with which
Great Britain was at war.
Edward Bell, second secretary of the
American embassy here. who is in
charge of the working of the alien act
So far as it affects Americans, said
80 far as we know. not a single
American has been prevented from
landing in Great Britain"
The American Secretarys cablegram
to the ambassador here was sent on
receipt at Washington of delayed pro-
tests from SHTlStlanla anu f1dSEe, from
which ports steamers sail to closed
ports, such as Southampton: but Mr..
Bell already had arranged with the
authorities to admit Americans to such
ports on their announcing their Amer
lean citizenship.
Refugees at Amsterdam.
AMSTERDAM. August 13. via Lon
don.-The special train bringing 400
Americans from Berlin arrived here at
8 o'clock this morning. The party.
who were under the direction of the
American ambassador to Germany. James
w. Gerard. continued on the train to Rot
terdam. whence they will sail for the
United States on steamer of the Hol-
land american line.
BERLIN, via Copenhagen and Lon
don, August IA meeting of 500
Americans in the German capital was
informed last evening that many Ger
man families were ready to take
stranded Americans into their houses
without cost. The first on the list of
those willing to do so was Adolf
Wermuth. the lord mayor, who declared
he would take three Americans.
The banks here also are ready to
grant important credits to Americans
The president Of the German bank de-
clared that he would grant $I,250,0OO
against adequate security.