Evening star., 1927-05-29

agencies which will supply funds for
the reconstruction of the refugees of
the three hardest hit States.
Mr.. Hoover reviewed the devasta-
ton wrought by the flood and de-
scribed how the relief agencies--the
greatest in the Nations history
were organized in the Southland.
Outlines Great Task.
He also outlined the great task of
reconstruction which confronts Ar.
kansas. Louisiana and Mississippi
after the waters recede. Six hundred
thousand of the 100000 homeless are
destitute, he said. ..~s @ea
The reconstruction Should be the
task OF a generous North to a resoiute
and courageous South" he said, "and
we Of the North have the right and
duty to bind their wounds"
"The outstanding Americans of the
SJuth who have suffered in the flood
have asked for loans, not assistance
in many cases." Mr.. Hoover declared.
The method of rehabilitation was de-
scribed tersely as giving the people
seed, clothing, stock of food and
feed, shelter and household goods and
minimum of animals and imple-
ments so they will in measure be re-
stored TO productlon.
"Can Carry On" Says Hoover.
"If we strengthen the credit agen-
cies they should be able to carry on"
he said.
Mr.. Hoover said his address was "a
report of stewardship" to all who had
contributed to the Red Cross Relief
Fund of $4,000, 900, and his appeal
for more funds was for the new stage
of this greatest peace-time calamity
in the history of our country-recon-
struction of it's victims" He said the
toll of the flood was doubled since his
radio appeal a month ago from Mem
phis for the present relief fund.
Mr.. Hoover said the machine con.
structed to cope with the flood was di-
videi into three parts-the rescue
stage, the stage Of exiles from home
and the stage Of return and recon.
struction. '
Flood Sweeps Southwark.
"As the flood sweeps southwark 1t
recedes in the North and each organ.
ization must follow in turn" he de.
clared. AT any given point on this
southwark sweep, the rescue stage
lasts for a. week, the exile stage for
month to six weeks and the recon.
struction stage will take months and
| even years.
80 far as we know, only half a
dozen lives from the flood have been
| lost in the five weeks since we under
| took central control and coordination
of all the agencies in relief Of this
great catastrophe" he continued
There was serious loss of life in the
| confusion of the week preceding the
centraliZation initiated by President
| Coolidge. This was but natural
BY establishment Of a net oi
communication We have been able, in
stantly a great break came in tht
levees, to throw out an advance warn
| ing to the people below. We have
been able to carry them to safety.
Less than Six Lost.
ITO have moved 400 900 people from
their homes under these dangerou:
| circumstances. and to have accom-
| plished it with but loss of less thar
six lives, is the monument to their ef
fectiveness and courage" he added.
''The rescue stage Is nearly ovel
as the crest reaches the Gulf o
Mexico" he continued.
Up to the present time total o
more than 100000 persons have beer
taken into the refugee camps" Mr.
Hoover said, land more than 250.00'
more have received rations outside
the camps, or a total OF more thai
100000 dependent upon public help
| ICsoptir,e1 o, 10 0e IN Column %