Evening star., 1927-05-01


the result of the fight may be no one
knows"
but If our engineers should fail in
their work at any section to hold the
lines, the forces of relief are tonight
modified, for instant action at every
point" he said,
II am confident that we shall have
little loss of life even If the worst
comes, yet we would have much
destitution and suffering il breaks
come
He listed these homeless.
Three thousand in each of Illinois.
Kentucky and Tennessee; 10000 or
80 900 in Missouri; 10000 flooded in
Mississippi and 100000 in Arkansas.
Planting Must BE Done.
"Six millions of acres of land have
already been flooded" he continued as
bidding picture.
over 5000 100000 Of damage has
already been done The cattle and
the mules have been drowned by the
thousands and the seed has been
swept away. The land in the flooded
districts will be under water for
month or six weeks. The camps must
be maintained for that time. I'M
mediately the land is drained planting
must be done again"
Secretary Hoover, speaking with
the desperate scenes still fresh in his
minds eye. appealed to the Nation
fog help for the stricken Mississippi
Valley.
Even if the flood is not extended
by the breaking of more levees, the
calamity is an appalling one. These
hundreds Of thousands must not alone
receive food, clothing, shelter and
medical attention, but they must be
started in life again. Houses, fur
niture implements, seed, food for ami
mails must be found after the crisis
is passed.
Resources Are Exhausted.
THE people of the South are giving
and giving again. They are not rich.
Many villages and towns have had
their population doubled by destitute
refugees. Their resources are ex.
hausted with this. the first week
They have already given more
than any of our Northern neighbors
ever will be called upon to give"
Cross, for which an appeal for a
$4,000, 900 relief fund has been made
and for which additional money will
pc asked by President Coolidge after
Mr.. Hoover reports to him next Mon
uay morning in Washington.
Efl1clent organization to meet all
these difficult problems is moving
he said.
Reconstruction Is Being Planned.
The American National Red Cross
has, by quick action, spread it's nets
OF support and protection over the
Hooded areas in support of the local
communities Looking even further
forward, upon my recommends ton,
the. governors OF Louisiana, Mississippi
ana Arkansas have already appointed
Of relief and reconstrt1c-
ton under leadership of independent
and able citizens.
These commissions are not only
to coordinate the State
with the national agencies in emer-
gency questions, but are at once organ
fling in every town and county to de-
ternline the need and the method of
reconstruction. Our great federal de-
partmonts VIII support them with
their representatives and skill. The
Red Cross has appointed one of it's
members TO act upon the commissions
to coordinate the work and support.
"The people of the South are dem
daily their courage and
their abilities.
Cannot Charge Failure.
mo man can charge the fate of
these unfortunate people to any fail
ure upon their own part. Their bur-
den IS an appeal to the charity of
their Countrymen. Our country has
been greatly blessed by Almighty
GOD. Molc millions of our homes
tonight rest without fear of the health
and life of our little ones than In
lnv nation in the world ~ 81
But catastrophe has come to the
people of our South.
"We, the American people, have
created a great national organization
that should ever be ready for great
The American National
Red Cross is that organization, and
this, your organization, is doing its
duty effectively and efficiently. 1t is
your great heart.
ut asks that you enlarge your sup
port that it shall not fail.
Less Indn 0UU Detu.
That fewer than 800 lives have been
lost was termed "a tribute to sys-
tematic organization, to courage and
Mr.. Hoover said that the intentional
breaking of the east levee below New
Orleans averted "a monumental catas-
trophe TO that city"
1--WE, here in the midst of these
events, are humble before such an
outburst of the forces of nature and
the futility of man in their control"
began Mr.. Hoover in explaining the
conditions which contributed to the
food, a great collection of water from
30 States moving down the river 80
or 40 miles a day.
Mr.. Hoover spoke from Station
VINO of the Memphis Commercial
Appeal, which was connected with
other stations throughout the country.
He left at 8 pm. to reach Wash
ington Monday morning and report
directly to President Coolidge before
he hurries back to the flooded area to
make his base ''up and down the
river"
New Levees Held Necessary.
The sure remedy for present flood
in the Mississippi valley is
the construction of levees which will
hold the stream, said a joint state
ment issued here late today by Sec
retary Hoover and Maj. Gen. Jadwin.
The construction of reservoirs
around headwaters are not solutions;
they cover lands virtually equal to