New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-10
LET THE DIES MONIES SAIL!
A Sharp Protest Against Our Relief Ships
Waiting ANONYMOUSLY at Alexandra

The Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: I venture to trespass upon your space
to request the publication of the following
facts in order that a nationwide determine
ton may be aroused that some hundreds oil
thousands of human beings shall not die
merely that world diplomacy may still pursue
its methods of procrastination.
The history that has led to the self-intern-
ment of two ships of the United States Navy
in a friendly port is even more shocking
exhibition of our national inability to carry
out our mission and pursue our way along
the path of "life, liberty and the pursuit OF
hardness" than is the remaining in our home
ports of our merchant feet
There have been in the port of Alexandria
Egypt. now for more than three months the
United States cruiser Des Moines and the
United States collier Caesar loaded with food
and medicines for the relief Of the sick and
starving in Syria and Palestine.
There are more than two thousand Amerl-
cans in Palestine and Syria, almost all OF
whom are Christian missionaries, and VINO
are to all ntents prisoners in those coun-
tries through the stoppage Of the ordinary
means of travel. The intended arrival of the
Des Moines and the Cesar at Beirut from
Alexandria offered an opportunity for their
release. There was much feinting and spar
ring. and the Turks outdid themselves IN de-
Law. but all the difficulties were overcome at
last. The blockade was raised, the safe con-
duct was arranged, all the forms and cere-
monies of diplomatic usage were SATISFIED.
All the undertakings of the many nations IN
volved were solemnly given and accepted TO
hermit these ships TO complete their errand
of mercy. Women and children and old
men we're, through the humanity OF the
high contracting powers. to be given the sue
cor of medicine in sickness, and some hun
dreds of peaceful Americans were to be per
mitted" to leave the land in which they were
imprisoned-in which they were threatened
with death by starvation or disease.
To the everlasting shame of civilization
the Des Moines and the Caesar, with their
life-saving cargoes, are still self-interned at
Alexandria? Be you Christian or Jew, be 7ou
native born or naturalized citizen OF the
United States, be you English or German
be you French or Turk, ! conjure YOU by
your own mothers, undo this hdeous wrong
Our ships are subject TO the fiat OF higher
law than is laid down By diplomacy -the law
of nature, that knows no other course tnsn
to help, as even the wild beasts do when they
make the desert wilds echo their pleadings
for help for their furnishing whelps.
Let our ships sail after due notice to the
governments abroad, TO perform their mis-
sion Of mercy. Shall the population In Pales-
tine die through lack of the drugs that are
so close at hand, ready to save them! Shall
the hundreds Of thousands OF Syrians waste
unto death for want of the food the generos-
ity of America has just placed outside their
threshold? And shall the Americans, whose
country and whose relatives owe them the
right of repatriation, remain amid these hor-
rors?
II the worlds answer Is NO" then let
these ships sail, and other ships will follow.
Tho sab 900 a month that the Joint Distribu-
ton Committee is sending for general relief
70 the Jews In Palestine and the quarter OF
a million dollars that II has sent 10 Turkey
for relief Of the Jews IN that country, includ
ing Syria, can be quickly increased II these
ships By finishing their present task, show
the public that giving money In America
means providing food for the starving thou
sands over there.
call upon America, then. to Insist In a
voice that will be heard throughout the
world, not only In tho name OF humanity, not
AZ all IN the name Of kith and kin. or creed
and faith. but In the name OF our one hun
drsd millions OF people, In the name ~ nature
herself. that these ships 70 TO Beirut. and
that they be unmolested.
The Des Moines and the Cnsar must sail!
ALBERT LUCAS
Secretary. Joint distribution Committee.
New York, March \, 1917,