New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-21

Calais. March 6.-Maxinc Elliott has
met with remarkable success in getting
provisions to starving Belgians in the
fighting zones OF Flanders. Personally
conducting her expedition by barge.
towed through the canals of France and
Flanders. she penetrated that little cor
ner where the Belgian standard still
flies between the guns OF the allied and
German armies.
at is a miracle to have got here"
said Miss Elliott TO an Associated Press
correspondent who recently met her
and two women companions in the
midst of their work. Ii is against
every rule for woman to be at the
actual front, and Miss Elliott sue
ceeded in her project only after weeks
Of "Machiavellian scheming and
slavery"
The American actress enlisted her ex
petition as part of the services OF
the American Commission for Relief in
Belgium. but financed it largely her
self, and personally conducted it in the
hope Of reaching the destitute in the
country where the fighting still RACES.
for these receive little or no help from
the big funds administered through
Brussels.
I've had on board $4,000 worth OF
food and a dozen enormous bales of
clothing when our homely barge, the
Julia, left Calais" said Miss Elliott. Be-
sides herself. there were only three
members Of the party, with the eXcep-
ton of three Belgian soldiers, who
looked after the barge. Two besides
Miss Elliott were women, intimate
friends OF the actress.
ave set out from Calais on February
g." she said. latter overcoming innum-
cradle petty annoyances that one can
not foresec because in peace time there
is no precedent for them. For instance.
it was impossible for US to buy mat
tresses in Calais. We had to beg four
of the base commandant so that the
sailors would not have TO sleep on the
floor.
Eve also succeeded in borrowing
from the army commlssariat 10000 tins
of milk. tons of potatoes, 800 barrels
OF sugar and hogshead after hoPshead
OF salt pork to supplement our cargo
The barge. which the correspondent
was invited to inspect. was spic and
span from the scrubbing which Miss
Elliott had given it. It's just as comfy
here as at Ifartsbourne,' she said, Eek
cept we do all the manual labor our
selves. We scrub the floors. do all the
cooking. make the beds and work like
cooks, housemaids and odd men COM
bined We have cooked for the sol
diers. and the tug crew as we'll. If you
please. and we drop into bed each night,
exhausted. but content.
MY feet are done up in cotton wool.
but one doesn't mind. ! am going to
wear sabots like the peasants after this,
with woollen stockings underneath.
And my poor hands! Any cook in the
world would be ashamed 10 own them"
At Dunkirk the party had its baptism
Of fire. 81 saw house blown TO bits
fifty yards in front Of me- said Miss
Elliott. "None OF our party was hurt
but seven people were killed little
further on.
II must have been mad not 20 have
brought camera for it has been
thriliingly interesting country through
which we have passed. We have seen
Taubes flying overhead and heard the
boom of cannon. As far as the eye
could see, trenches, trenches trenches.
There were funny little observation
houses in the treetops, wireless poles,
barbed wire entanglements and swarms
Of soldiers living like half-drowned
rats. poor things. in sea Of mud. They
saluted our flag as we passed and gazed
in amazed wonder at the spectacle or
women in these forbidden places.
Near Adinkerque gunboat full OF
English officers from Admiral Ayres's
squadron steamed down 10 meet US.