Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-21
100000 NEED AID
At ONCE ON ISLAND
influenza Epidemic Starts in
Porto Rico. With Other Dis.
eases Threatening.
Ey the Associated Press

Ey the Associated Press
SAN JUAN, September 21.--Four hum
dred thousand destitute persons need
j immediate assistance. and most of them
will require help for a considerable
time, in the opinion of the Red Cross
organization here. This. the first quick
estimate" of the post-hurricsne needs of
Porto Rico, was telegraphed to WASH
lngton today.
Requests for additional tents cots and
blankets we're also sent to the Capital.
The workers on the ground said that
they could not at this time meet the
headquarters request for an estimate of
money requirements.
Seek to Halt Disease.
Health and hygiene are occupying
much of the attention of the relief
workers. Influenza, typhoid measles
and malaria are in prospect for the
| stricken population, but all rescue agen-
cies are bending every effort to ward
off disease.
An epidemic of influenza has already
started. Red Cross officials found in
making a survey of approximately a
quarter of the devastated area. The
officials believed today that danger
GUS epidemic was in prospect II refu-
gees were not immediate shelter.
In the area surveyed 35.450 homes
were destroyed, with 1851 persons in-
iured, including 270 who have been
placed in hospitals. At Guayan1a 200
cases of influenza made necessary the
establishment of temporary hospital,
for which tents were sent from San
Juan
Army Aids Red Cross.
The Army was aiding the Red Cross
work IN every way, most of the trucks
which we're damaged in the storm hav-
ing been repaired and put into service.
The steamship Padrico was loaoed
with 200 tons of food for shipment to
Arroyo on the southeast coast. Arroyo
is the seaport for the Guayama district
and the food will be distributes at the
port and throughout the district.
Politicians, many of whom we're
named on local relief committees, must
not handle relief measures, Henry M.
Baker. Red Gross director of disaster
relief, asserted. He emphasized tnat
food and supplies must get to people
who need it most in the shortest possi-
BILE time.
The municipal political squabble In
San Juan. which resulted in he re-
fusal of the municipal assembly to vote
! the mayor money for clearing the
streets of garbage and debris, was dealt
with by Commissioner Estedes OF in
| terror The commissioner. whose or
| eanization has already cleared most of
| the islands 1000 miles of roads, placed
! 30 of the departments trucks at the
! di5posal of the city for clearing up the
refuse.
Coffee Loss. S3,oOO,00O.
United States Trade Commissioner
McCay reported that the coffee crop
was insured for somewhere between
| $4,000 900 and $7,000,000
careful survey of the citrus fruit
! losses indicated an estimated damage
! of S., 100000.
Two of the islands most prominent
citizens have succumbed to strain
caused by the aftermath OF the hur-
! ricane.
| One of these was DR.. Francisco del
Vale, who was the first mayor of San
Juan after American occupation. He
was dean of the medical fraternity in
the island
The other was Pedro de Castro,
official interpreter. who died suddenly
|. yesterday. He had interpreted the
speeches of visiting Presidents and other
| high officials His last activity was at
! the relief meeting called by Gov.
/ Towner on Monday.
Stumped by up stump
De Castro had reputation for being
able to meet almost any American
phrase with its Spanish equivalent. He
was at a loss, however, at the first
Fourth of July celebration ever held on
/ the island when Phillip c. Hanna, then
! American consul. used the expression
! up a stump" De Castro laughingly
told the speaker that he could not put
that into Spanish.
| One of the unusual effects of the
storm is a scarcity in domestic pets.
particularly dogs. In its news story
of a week ago. the Associated Press
said that even the cats and dogs that
nightly prowl among the "arbage cans,
sought shelter indoors. Exploration of
storm ruins has revealed dozens of dead
dogs. Owners of thoroughbred animals.
particularly siredales, bulls and police
dogs state that their pets have either
been lost or made seriously i'll by the
storm experience.