Evening star., 1923-10-07
How u. S. Navy Quickly
Offered Japanese Relief

the rico and beans we could not get.
It was found that about hundred
thousand pounds Of sugar could be
obtained, as well as 10000 pounds Of
flour, SO these were imediately con-
tracted for. We also obtained supplies
Of straw mats.
Ono Of the most pleasant features
Of the two hectic days we spent at
Tsingtao was the enthusiastic graft
tude encountered on all sides among
the Japanese element there. The day
before we got in. q mass meeting Of
Japanese had been held. and the coll
lection of a relief fund undertaken. A
ship had already been chartered and
was being loaded with supplies while
we were there.
The fact that an American naval
supply vessel should drop its reeu-
lar work, be sent by our admiral TO
Tsingtao, and purchase with our own
money relief supplies to be given
away in their homeland apparently
made deep and favorable impression
on the Japanese in Tsingtao, some CT
whom, rightly or wrongly. have re-
Gently been inclined to rate US as
more friendly to tho Chinese than TO
them. The local japanese newspaper
even published an extra the afternoon
OF our arrival. telling Of our mission.
While few OF the items contracted
for by the consul were delivered
Tuesday afternoon, the bulk Of the
cargo was delivered and taken aboard
Wednesday. From early dawn until
up to 8 o'clock Wednesday night cart
load after CARLOAD OF supplies arrived
on the dock. all pushed and hauled
by coolie labor. Draft horses in
Tsingtao are almost unknown, and
only one contractor made his delfv-
cry by motor truck. Even the
Standard Oil Company's delivery Of
gasoline was brought down on coolie
carts. The amount Of material which
can be hauled by two coolies on these
crude two-wheeled carts Is stagser-
inE-over a ton is frequently OBJ
served The haul is made q little
easier by the tracks paved with stone
blocks along the sides Of the streets,
on which the coolie carts are drawn.
But that does not help much on the
hills, and there are several between
tho town and the docks, over a mile
away.
BY midafternoon Wednesday de-
Iiveries on the dock had piled UP
more rapidly than the crew could
take the various stores on board,
ana at one time 1t looked as though
there were more stores on the dock
than we could ever load aboard ship.
Thousands of rolls Of straw mats
piled high on the dock made an inn
pressive spectacle-the mats had to
be taken on board the last thing, as
many OF them were piled on the
matches after they had been closed.
On trips which had to be made to
town wednesday to speed up deliv-
cries or untangle misunderstanding
at the customs, carloads of mats
were observed on almost every street,
all headed for our dock. Altogether
it was quite a big day in Tsingtao.
Among other interesting things, q
run on the local branch Of the Yoko-
hama Specie Bank, inspired by the
news Of tho destruction of the home
office, took place. and gold yen were
at discount Of about IS per cent.
BY 10 o'clock the end began to
come In sight, and it was a nice ques-
tiou; rs to whether all the mats on
the dock could be located somewhere
on board ship. BY using every avail
able stowage space on deck this was
finally accomplished. The last hour
or so was q busy one in the supply
ONCE. with all hands checking de-
liverles made and assisting the con-
tractors In tho preparation OF their
invoices IN proper form. The old
Navy custom OF paying all bills be-
fore leaving port was reiigiously fol-
lowed, and shortly, after midnight
tho last mat came aboard and tho last
contractor was handed q check COW
erins his complete delivery. A few
! minutes later lines were cast or and
we were away.
At the time this Is written. we are
approaching Yokohama and are still
as much In, the dark as to conditions
we shall nnd there as we were q
week ago. II Is hoped that the cargo
we bring win be OF real use to the
hungry and homeless thousands pic
tured in the dispatches. although how
to get II ashore Is q problem yet TO
be solved. Whatever be the out
come, the experience OF the past six
days has been OF possible interest
at. home in showing that the Navy
can and does operate as speedily in
times Of peare as in times OF war.
ana as efficiently on missions of hu-
uaanity IS on these Of destruction.