Evening star., 1915-05-31
Miss Mabel 7. Boardman Says
Thousands Are Forced Into
Armies to Obtain Food.
famine AND PLAGUE
THROUGHOUT COUNTRY
Statement of Conditions Issued From
Red Cross Headquarters-Car-
rama Denies Shortage.

More than 100000 persons in the vicin-
ity of Mexico City are victims of famine
and plague. and dependent on relief
through the American Red Cross, accord
ing to a statement issued last night by
Miss Mabel T. Boardman, director Of the
relief work. She says that no peace is
possible while thousands are forced into
armies to obtain food. The statement
recites conditions that drive starving
people to fall ON bodies of dying animals,
and relates how women are killed in the
bread line.
80 long as this starving condition of
the people of Mexico continues" said Miss
Boardman, there can be, in my judg-
ment, no real hope for peace in that un-
fortunate country. If we can supply
them with food We will have taken q long
step in the direction Of restoring peace.
From what has been told me, it undoubt-
edly is true that thousands Of men are
fighting In one army or the other in
Mexico largely because In that way. and
Of food. II we change those conditions
We shall help in great measure in the
direction of producing peace.
II believe the American Red Cross
is charged with particular duty to-
ward the people of Mexico. We are
doing great work in Europe at the
present moment, and it is our duty to
do it. and to do 1t thoroughly. but the
responsibility in connection with that
situation does not rest upon the Amer
lean people. But with regard to Mexico
and the other countries of this conti-
nent, not only is 1t our duty, but the
full measure of responsibility rests
upon us.
Would Aid in Bringing Peace.
'If we can get the people of Mexico
into the attitude Of mind of the Bel
gians at the present moment. and of
the Italians in connection with the
work of the American people and the
American Red Cross at the time of the
Messina earthquake, we will do more
than anything else possibly can do to-
ward bringing about peace.
They will then know that tho pur-
pose Of our people is a peaceful one.
and that our whole object 10 to re-
Iieve suffering and help them to help
themselves. Once let this impression
find lodgment in the minds OF few
of the Mexicans and 1t will soon per-
meate the entire country and they
will learn the truth.
I'VE have been given assurances"
continued Miss Boardman, that the
supplies we will send will reach the
needy. The Carranza people have or
fered to remove all duties from the
foodstuffs we shall send wherever they
have control, to guarantee the safety
of the relief supplies and give US free
transportation so far as that is pos
sible. We intend to afford this greatly
needed relief as rapidly as it is pos
sible to gather the food products and
ship them into the country.
People are dying of starvation daily
fa NJ - 1rw ~
Is the reason why we will receive a
prompt response to our appeals for
money and supplies and the unfortu-
nate people of Mexico will soon learn
guided by the dictates of. humanity
and a desire to relieve distress. and
that that is our sole aim and purpose"
Conditions Called Deplorable.
The statement issued from Red Cross
headquarters Is as follows:
Conditions in Mexico are growing
steadily worse. At Monterey several
thousands Of persons are fed daily.
Many refined families apply at night
for aid. The farmers from the sur
rounding country are coming to the
city to buy corn to feed their work
men and families, but cannot obtain it,
Multitudes are on the verge Of starva-
tlOn. AT durango the government . ell
forts to keep down the price of food
supplies failed, as buyers from Mon
terey and Torreon, where famine pre-
walls, are willing to pay any price.
Food supplies are becoming SO scarce
and the cost SO high that the poorer
classes are unable to buy and are in a
deplorable condition.
lat Tampico all food is about ex-
hausted. There Is no -four, and very
little corn. The conditions in outlying
districts are still worse, and tales Of
the starvation of the poor poems are
constantly coming into the city.
AT Vera Cruz and in the surrounding
country famine conditions prevail. At
Jalapa. the capital of the state of Vera
Cruz, the general condition of the town
is appalling. Money was raised by the
chamber of commerce to relieve the
distress, and corn was imported, but
the funds were soon exhausted The
local civil authorities then took up the
matter, with little success. The day
that no car arrives the town goes hun
cry. Most distressing scenes took
place at the municipal hall when these
rations were distributed. Some $500
women collected at z o'clock in the
morning to get in line for the distri-
button. which began at II o'clock, and
move for fear of losing their places
and their chance for a mere handful
of corn, resulted in many cases of
fainting from exhaustion. Some were
injured, and on several occasions one
or two have been killed. Many. after
for the supply ran out. Summing up
the case, 1t means the practical starva-
tion Of the town.
Starving on West Coast.
"On the west coast the inhabitants