The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-09-20
8 COAST GUARD
SHIPS TO RUSH
RELIEF TO AREA
President Promises Red
Gross Leader Fullest
Cooperation.
BIZ United Press

Cooperation.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.-Eight
coast guard ships were ordered to.
day to load with relief supplies and
rush to the hurricane devastated
east coast Of Florida as the Govern
ment began to turn it's manifold
agencies to helping homeless and
preventing starvation In the wake
of the storm.
President Coolidge promised John
Barton Payne, Red Cross leader,
fullest cooperation. Secretary Will
bur called out naval reservists in
Florida to help In keeping order and
promoting relief, under orders to CO.
perate with the State Militia, already
on duty.
Four Destroyers
The coast guard relief fleet will
consist Of four destroyers from New
York and four cutters, the Yanha-.
craw from Savannah, the Modoc
from Wilmington, N. c., the Man
from New York.
Commander H. G. Hamlet will
command the squadron. He will
take plentiful supplies to the east
coast and cooperate with the Red
Cross and State authorities, Admiral
F. c. Billiard, chief Of the service, an
nounced.
The Government and Red Cross
obtained use Of a telegraph line
short time during the night to
Miami. The first direct word from
Miami from Marcus Milan, Red
Cross man there, said $4,000 people
were homeless.
Medical Detachment
The U. S. S. Bagaduce was hurried
from Key West to Miami with
medical and marine detachment.
Food and medicine also were being
forwarded from Key West.
West Palm Beach and Tampa re-
ported starting food and medicine to
Miami.
The Red Cross has issued a call
for 325 reserve nurses in Jackson
vile, Tampa and Miami and Mrs.
Charlecotte M. Heilman, field repre-
sentative in Florida and Georgia, Aas
been directed to return from her va
cation in Richmond, Va, to take
charge Of the nursing work. She
was in charge of nursing in the
Smyrna, Near East, fire.
The first contribution to Florida
relief, check for 5000, was received
today from the birmingham, Mass,
chapter of the organization.
Food Needed First
Food tents, cots, bedding and
medical equipment are urgently
needed in the storm stricken area,
according to the Red Cross. But
despite the desperate need for
shelter for the homeless, estimated
as high as $4,000 and medical aid for
the thousands Of injured, it is food
that is needed first. meager appeals
received so far assert. Six carloads
of foodstuffs were ordered over
night rushed from Jacksonville to
Miami.
Two high Red Cross officials al
ready are en- route to Florida. Henry
NJ Baker, national director of dis
aster relief. left Kansas City, Mo-,
Sunday night for Florida. James L.
Fieser, vice president of the Red
Cross in charge of domestic opera
lions, was expected In Atlanta early
today from Mobile, Ala, to organize
relief work.
Meanwhile, Henry T. Reed, rep
resentative in Jacksonville, Fla,
have made all possible arrangements
for transporting aid to the southern
cities.
Order to Postmasters
All postmasters in Florida were d.
rected by acting Postmaster-General
Bartlett to utilize postal facilities and
personnel to help in rescue work, and
the Miami postmaster was author
ICED to employ added personnel.
The Miami main postoffice was not
badly damaged but a temporary adj
dition was washed away.
Secretary of War Davis ordered
Major Johnson Hagood, At
lanta, fourth corps area commander,
to furnish all possible assistance to
the storm victims, and informed Gov
ernor Martin of Florida that Army
facilities were at the disposal of the
State of Florida.
Davis order directed an investiga-
ton to determine need of relief ac-
ton, and authorized him to call upon
so-called exempted stations"-Ft.
Benning, Ga, infantry school and
corps area flying fields for any aid
thought necessary.
Chairman Payne Of the Red Cross
gave President Coolidge a gloomy
picture of the situation in a call at
the White House. Payne will ask
Mr.. Coolidge to issue a proclamation
calling the Nation to lend succor if