Evening star., 1916-01-09
H. c. HOOVER ASKED
BY THE GERMANS
TO AID THE SERBS
CONTINUED from first page).

connected with the clearing house to
arriving at Saloniki might most need.
He had been watching the withdrawal
of the man in the OK cart and to assist
him gave me free hand to draw on
his private account for money 1000
But in Saloniki. although I was very
generous with his money, none would
accept it. All were agreed that help
from America must be directed to
northern Serbia, or. as it is called. Old
Serbia-to the districts occuied by
the Germans. The organizations OF
the allies and the Greeks declared that
they were able to look after those Serb
ians who were pushed across the bor-
der into Greece, but that into the in
yaded territory only neutrals could
penetrate and that in consequence
Americans should direct their aid to
Albania and Old Serbia.
Necessity for Organization.
This was the unanimous opinion of
the Greek, Russian. English and Scotch
Red Cross societies, the agents of the
English Salvation Army, the doctors
of Lady Pagets unit. Nine. Grouitch,
the American wife of the assistant Sec
retary OF state of Serbia, and our con-
sui, John Kehl. They also agreed that
hundreds of thousands of Serbians In
the conquered territory could be saved
only by an organization similar to Mr..
Hoovers in Belgium. Lacking Hoover,
they all nominated the same two men
to initiate his work-Dr. Strong or DR..
Ryan.
cabled this to my banker friend. but
before the cable arrived he had already
sent DIR. Ryan to Rome to try to get
supplies across the Adriatic. With him
went Charles Carroll, lately of the
American Ambulance at Neuilly, and
Hugh Reed Griefen of the Johnson
Harvester Company. They represent
the clearing house and the American
Red Cross. DR.. Ryan is already in AL
bania, and the two others are arrang-
ing with the French government to
send a steamer with supplies to Du
razzo from Marseille. The Willingness
of the French navy to convoy this ship
this distance is in Interesting contrast
to the disinclination of the Italian navy
to convoy $4,000 tons of supplies over
side Of Durazzo the ports on the east
shore OF the Adriatic are virtually
blockaded. The Mouths Of Cattaro. the
port OF Cetinje. the capital Of Monte
navy: the narrow harbor of Antivari
| is blocked by twelve sunken vessels.
and San Giovanni di Me, the port OF
Scutari. is also under the guns OF
| last Thursday that an Italian trans
port struck a mine and lost 200 men.
| Serbians in Albania.
| In consequence of this blockade the
situation of the Serbians in Albania Is
described as terrible. An American doc
tor who has just arrived here from Alezzo
The condition of those peasants and SOL
diers without $2-which Is the condition
Of thousa nds-can be imagined.
Meanwhile. to help northern Serbia ap-
I l.
Mr.. Hoover. He was asked to nominate
one of his lieutenants to organize relief
for the invaded territory. 1t then was
learned that by invitation of Germany
he might himself attempt to carry out
the same plan of relief with which his
name is associated in Belgium But first
Mr.. Hoover wants Germany to give as
surances on two points: That the sup
plies sent in will not be taken by the
Germans. and that they will not seize
the natural foodstuffs of the country
Cattle Are Driven Oh.
| 1t is. used to be, the rule of war
| not to kill non-comba ia nts-not to kill
| them by bullets. by drowning by drop
| ping bombs on them. by starvation; !;
| not to kill them at all. Germany has
| changed all that.
| Already she has driven forth into her
| own territory, out of Serbia. 100000
| hogs and cattle That is the kind of
I warfare to which Mr.. Hoover objects.
That il is blackmailing the allies. That
! is why he is waiting for guarantees
| Germany removes from Belgium and
now from Serbia. the live stock and
| crops upon which non-combatants de-
| pend for existence and says to the al
| lies of those distressful countries:
| "You are their allies; feed them, or
they die"
The allies answer: You must not
| wage war upon the innocent; you must
mr. nj
must not strike at us through the lives
of babies"
| For. as a member of the Serbian Ieea-
| tion said to me this moTHing:
| while Germany delays her assura n
| ces my people are eating horsefesh, ex-
cept the babies. who cannot eat horse
flesh, and they die"
| Copyright, 19I8)