The Washington times., 1920-02-02
BRITISH
FUND SNUFFED0UT
Beresford Tribute Of U. s to
English Seamen, Indorsed by
Sims, Silently Moves.

NEW YORK, Feb. 2. - Americas
tribute to British merchant seamen Is
no more. The worldwide fund, 10
which the United States was to con-
tribute $4,000 900. to be sent on q
bsttleship and presented to King
George, has vanished into the ether.
No official announcement was made
OF the passing OF the vast venture 10
which~the New York American d.
rected public attention two months
ago. No solemn ceremony marked
its last moments, though Admiral
William S. Sims was its honorary
president. and a host OF other notA-
bles were ASSOCIATED with him.
The only mourner that could be
found was the manager OF the Photo
craft Company, and his grief was
purely financial, for he explained:
They owe me $50 for taking pic
lures OF Admiral Sims letters and
President wilson's statements OF ap-
proval and a lot OF other high-class
work. They seem to owe everybody.
"Even the fsgmsker who made
the British and American banners for
them can't get his money. though
they said Admiral Sims was going to
pay for the British flag. don't know
where they have moved to or what
has become of them or any part OF 1t.
though I've written my head on"
Silently Vacated.
The palatial offices occupying an
entire floor of the Frances Building
are vacant. The tenants had moved
quietly away. the building superin-
tendent said, and the names of Ad-
miral Sims and William II. Apple
ton, chairman, were rubbed from the
door. The last person to quit was
negro porter. who was said to have
been a steady visitor in the declining
days of the Tributes activity.
The Tribute paid rental at the rate
OF $4,000 year. but after few
months obtained modification OF It's
lease which permitted ii to quit at
will. The building superintendent
could give no clue to the present
whereabouts of Francis II. Deane,
the field secretary and office man
aget. or TO any other officials OF the
organization. He could not tell where
the expensive furniture and other
equipment had been taken.
When District Attorney Swami
stopped the Tribute collecting any
more money In this county, Secretary
Deane said there was about $500 on
deposit from Americans and about
So, 900 cabled from Great Britain,
where Chairman Appleton was in
charge.
He defined the object of the cam
paign as the raising of $4,000, 600
to be presented to King George for
the relief of the families OF British
seamen, outside military service, who
had lost their lives and property
through Germany's submarine ac-
tivity. No provision was to be made
from the fund. IT was explained, for
American seamen or their families.
Prosec1tor Active.
Assistant District Attorney Kilroe
Investigated tho organization afer
the New York American outlined It's
activities and forbade the collection
of more money, without permission
from the prosecutors office. Sccre-
tary Deane promised that the ordec
would be obeyed.
1t had been planned to start the
$50. .OOO, 900 drive in this city, with
the Prince of Wales, who was then
in the country. acting as the acceter-
ator at great bazaar But prema-
ture publicity, coupled with the feel
ing developed against Great Britain
as a result of the League Of Nations,
was said to have prevented this plan.
The movement was initiated in
England by the late Lord Beresford
and carried to America by Captain
Tupper, a British propagandist. VIII
liam II. Appleton organized the drive
here, with Admiral Sims approval.
The New York World editorially in
dorsed the plan.
Among the literature circulated by
the fund is a booklet containing let
ters in facsimile. from John w.
Davis, the American ambassador to
the court of st. James, and two from
Admiral Sims. In one letter, the Ad-
miral accepts the office of Honorary
Chairman and expresses his sympathy
with the cause. In the other sent
through Lieutenant Commander W. A.
Edwards, he asks that Chairman APP
pleton purchase a suitable flag and
send the bill to him.
President Wilson and Secretary of
War Baker were also credited with
letters expressing commendation of
the work of the British seamen. but
asking to be excused from indorsing
any particular organizations work.
Copies OF cablegrams from Great
Britain indicated that many thou
ands Of dollars were contributed
abroad IN the American fund