Evening star., 1921-09-11
HOOVER RELIEF BOSS
OLD HAND AT GAME
Col. w. N. Haskell Has Had Previous Ex-
perience and Has Made Good Under !,
Difficult Circumstances.

late any plans. Plans for effectively
handling the work can only be sue
cessfully worked out after arrival In
the sections While we have informa-
there. they come from many diff
ferent sources, and after reading
them they are so conflicting In many
instances that 1t Is dtmcult to see
just what are the facts. About the
only way to get them is to get on the
get there just as soon as possible In
order that.the work Of actually feed
ing can begin.
Conferences In London.
while I am on my way to Lon
don. where / will stop for conferences
in order to get the benefit of infor-
nation on Russian conditions that
may be available there, supplies will
have started overseas. BY the time
they arrive at Russian ports. we hope
to have some kind of transportation
and warehousing in readiness for
their reception and distribution.
I'VE do not know the facts regard
ing the conditions of the railroads and
other means of transportation In the
country to which we are going.
Neither have we any authenticated in
formation as to the warehouse facili-
ties. This makes it necessary that the
relief administration officials get into
the heiQ promptly anu nave plahS
formulated for the distribution and
handling of the supplies by the time
they arrive on the scene.
Reports indicate that the condi-
tions in the Volga basin. are the
worst. and 1t Is probable that will
head Immediately for that section.
after landing on Russian soil. laying
out plans for the transportation Of
the supplies as we go.
To he In Full Control.
OF course. we are to be in absolute
control OF the expedition, as that Is
the only condition under which the
work has been undertaken. We are
promised every help and facility and
will demand it upon arrival on the
primary work will be- to feed the.
million little children. That is the
chief task of the relief expedition at
this time. However, we will provide
medical attention and such other re-
lief as is within the power Of the
course. the principal purpose Of this
particular relief expedition.
The relief work probably will be
extended. but do not know just
my early departure for Russia pre-
cludes my taking part in any dis
cussions for general relief work
among all of the people.
But the money Is ready for the
relief of the children and the sup
plies are beginning to go over. So
a force must be on the ground to
plan for and govern the distribution
in an equitable manner. AS I have
explained, not having any definite
and authentic information regarding
the conditions. it is imperative that
the ground be thoroughly gone over.
1t may be necessary to provide motor
trucks to transport the foodstuffs TO
the centers of distribution, as We do
not know in what condition the Rus
sian transportation system now Is.
Obviously. the relief work cannot be
effective until an efficient distribu-
ton system is planned and built up"
Has Made Good Elsewhere.
In conjunction with and for Her
bert Hoover. Col. Haskell has headed
relief expeditions in both Armenia
and Rumania. In the former country
he operated in most of the very dan
gerous Turk areas and hotbeds Of
chicanery and destruction. The
women and children were starving
and the difficulties of reaching them
were great. but. as proved, they were
not insurmountable when they ap-
peared in the pathway Of an Amer
ican just chock-full of the kind Of
grit which brought the late world
enemy to its knees. Col. Haskell is
just full of that. and he recognizes
no barrier and abides by no ,ulti-
matums If they have for their pur-
pose hindrance to reaching and
putting strength into the minds and
bodies of suffering little children.