The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-03-14
WORK WILL GO on.
Hoover, Before Sailing, Tells of
lO,OOO,OOO Starving.

There was regret and even indignation
among officials directing the work OF the
Commission for Relief in Belgium when
the misinformation was telegraphed here
from Washington q few hours after
Chairman Herbert Hoover sailed for
Europe yesterday that Belgian relief
work. as some Washington despatches
incorrectly had 1t, may he suspended
because of the activities of German L.
boats.
1t was emphatically declared at the
commissions offices In the Equitable
Building that not even state OF war be-
tween the United States and Germany
would cause for minute a letup in the
commissions work of collecting funds
and materials here to save Belgian babies
and destitute adults from starvation. The
fact that 100000 men. women and
little ones will certainly starve il the
relief work is discontinued should make
It plain to American citizens. the relief
workers said, that there could not. and
will not, be so much as a suggestion Of
fered to stop the work.
The fact that all Belgian relief sup
plies, not only from America but all
countries OF the world are sent into Bel
gum under the supervision of Mr.
Hoover's commission is another reason
for making the continuance Of the COM
mission imperative. The only change In
programme brought about by the strained
condition Of this country's present for
eign relations Is that the distribution
henceforth will be in the hands OF the
Dutch instead Of the Americans. There
are about forty United States citizens
still engaged in the work OF giving out
the supplies, but these probably will be
relieved and the whole work of feeding
the starving turned over to Holland. In
the meantime. however. the commission
hopes Americans will keep constantly in
mind that 1t Is up TO them to furnish
the food.
Fifteen ships Lost Of 500.
II was difficult for the relief workers
yesterday to believe that the German Ad-
miralty had officially ordered q C-boat
to sink the relief ship Storstad, bound
from Buenos Ayres to Rotterdam with
grain. Only fifteen relief ships. all in
sured, heretofore had been lost out OF
500 total sailings and all the fifteen had
gone down by running into mines. Only
a hot headed, irresponsible C-boat COM
mander, It was said here, would have
deliberately sunk relief ship.
Various relief work duties abroad
called for Mr.. Hoover's personal super
vision, wherefore he sailed yesterday on
the Spanish ship Antonio Lopez for
Spain. lie will go to Paris and London
and later hopes to make his way into
Belgium to confer with relief agents in.
cluding Americans. who still are active
In Belgium despite our strained rela.
tions with Germany.
when Cardinal Mercier,' said Mr.
Hoover Just before sailing yesterday
ordered prayers offered In all the
churches of Belgium that the American
commission might remain In Belgium
no looked confidently to America, no;
only for the day to day moral and ma
tcrial support from a little handful OF
Americans in Belgium, but for the larger
support, which would mean that when
Belgium Is restored to freedom her re-
turning Government might not find her
an empty husk, but people of high
spirit and regenerated ideals.
I'VE have sixteen ships loaded with
grain on the ocean now and will start
six more this week. Ten millions OF
people are dependent for their very lives
upon the arrival OF these cargoes before
mid April The commission has passed
through Il dozen crises before, but the
faith that the cry Of 100000 helpless
people cannot remain unheard. and the
ability, courage and resolution of my
colleagues have weathered every storm
80 far.
ships Under safe COnduct.
"At the worst" Mr.. Hoover said
when talking about the occasional loss
Of a relief ship. "such happenings are ir
the nature Of incidental misfortune, and
It Is unthInkable that most OF ou,
ships should not reach their destination
Every one of these ships that leaves q
North Atlantic or Gulf port carries with
her a safe conduct from the Swiss Min.
lister. acting upon authority from the
German Government, guaranteeing oul
flag, and their routes are accepted by
the German Government as safe from
German attack"
Two and one-half millions Of the com
missions wards are in occupied portion.
OF France. said Mr.. Hoover, and OF tho
100000 remaining In Belgium NOR,
than 3,5O0,000 are totally destitute
dependents upon the consciences ant
good will of the world"
Approximately $1,000 n month 1,
contributed by Belgian refugees in Eng
land" Mr. Hoover continued, from thei,
earnings In British industries. or ego,
900 Belgian refugees In England only
IL, 900. mostly women and children, ar,
unemployed. want particularly 10 EN-
phasize this point, because the Belgian.
have a right to Impress upon the worlt
that they are not hanging back withou
struggle and permitting themselve.
and their friends TO become dependents
"And there is another point which
desire earnestly to impress upon ever,
father and mother and upon every clergy
man and every physician In this coun
try that IL, that in order to preserve tn,
| children of Belgium II was necessar,
some months ago to increase their al