New-York tribune., 1919-04-16
Virtually All Relief Work
in Every Country, Except
France and Italy, Will
BE Done by Americans
Situation i'm Poland Grave
AT Least 100000 People
in a Worse Condition
Than Belgians We're

WASHINGTON, April 15.-More than
signed by the United States to the work
of feeding the peoples Of Europe who
are threatened with starvation The
enormous total of shipping turned over
by this country to a work of charity
became known to-day when it was an
nounced that several experts have
been sent abroad in an effort to hurry
the turn around" of American vessels
and thereby compensate in some meas
ure for the transfer of bottoms from
commercial trade.
Still more tonnage is desired by di-
rectors of European relief, and prob
ably will be allocated next month. In
April $4,000 tons have been added to
the "mercy feet sailing to ports on
the North Sea. the Mediterranean and
the Adrlatic. Virtually the entire re
lief work has been taken over by the
United States,r Great Britain confning
its efforts to assisting France and
Italy.
Crews already have been assembled
in England to man 100000 tons of Ger
man passenger ships soon to be turned
over to the United States. All of the
vessels will be used to carry American
troops
Situation Grave in Poland
Although conditions in Eastern Po-
land have been improved by relief
shipments from the United States, it
Will take year to put Poland back on
its feet, the American Red Cross has
been informed in cablegram from
Vernon Kellogg, member of the
United States food administration
"Poland's problem is far from being
solved" Mr. Kellogg cabled the Red
{ Cross There are at least 100000
people scattered over 10000 square
miles who are worse off than were the
Belgians, because they have been with
out any help whatsoever for four years.
| These people are absolutely dependent
upon the Allies for food, clothing, hos
ptal supplies and medicines, and | be-
lleve the Allies have no more impor-
tant dsty than to hasten all available
assistance.'
COBLENZ, April 13 (By The Asso-
ciated Press) ).-Seven million marks
were deposited on Saturday at head
quarters for the Third American Army
by the Germans to pav for food sup
plies for civilians in the area occupied
by United States forces. During last
week 100000 marks were deposited
for this purpose.
First Food Train Starts
The first food train started from
France this morning, its cars being
loaded from American army depots
The supplies bought by the Germans
include 300 tons of bacon, 300 tons Of
rice, 1900 tons of flour, 100 tons of
corned beef and % tons of evaporated
milk. The first Shipments have been
Montabaur and distributed throughout
the district at uniform prices fixed by
the German government.
At conferences with Colonel George
p. Tyner. assistant chief Of staff in
charge of transportation and supply,
the Germans were represented by DR..
A. II. Appelman, liaison official for
President Ebert to the Third Ame
Army and before the war a professor
IN the University of Vermont
The Germans are arranging to buy
all supplies the army is willing to
furnish until the Allied commission
has completed details of arrangements
for feeding the people in all the oc-
cupied zones. Encouraged by being
able to purchase from the army, the
Germans have requested tobacco, sugar
and soap, but these requests will prob
able be refused, it being desired to
sell more essential products.
LONDON, April 15.--The report that
an American food ship was attacked by
the Germans at Hamburg is not true,
according to an official message re-
ceived by American naval headouarters
here.