The Washington times., 1937-01-25
FLOOD FOUGHT
ON WARTIME
BASIS BY u. 5.
International News Service


The military, relief and health
services of the Federal Government
were operating on a wartime basis
today to help residents of the
flooded areas.
President Roosevelt took this ac-
ton last night after a special
White House conference with his
military, naval and relief agency
chiefs and with Rear Admiral
Cary T. Grayson, national chair
man of the Red Cross.
Moreover, Mr.. Roosevelt had the
doors of six Army supply depots
thrown open to provide tents, cots,
bedding and medicine for the flood
rescue work. These bases are at
Philadelphia, New Cumberland,
Pa, Columbus, Ohio, Jefferson
vile, Ind, San Antonio, Texas, and
Chicago. The supply bases of the
Navy and the Marine Corps will be
opened if additional supplies are
needed.
Chiefs Confer
Those called to the Executive
Mansion were: Gen. Malin Craig,
Army Chief of Staff; Admiral Will
liam Leahy, Chief of Naval Opera
tions; Rear Admiral r. R. Waes-
che, Coast Guard Commandant; !;
WPA Administrator Harry L. Hop
kinS, CCC Director Robert Fech-
ner and Rear Admiral Grayson.
The Governments flood-fighting
relief agencies will function day
and night-24 hours day-under
the war-basis program.
General Craig reported the 3d.
900 population of Paducah, KY,
were being evacuated by the Coast
Guard, Red Cross and the district
Army engineers.
Supplies for $4,000
Food, clothing, medical supplies
and portable shelters for about
$50, 900 refugees were being stacked
today for transportation and dis
tribution by the combined Federal
Red Cross emergency setup.
The commander of the Fifth
Army Corps area, in whose terri
tory most of the flood damage has
occurred, was telegraphed blanket
orders by the War Department
to establish and furnish refugee
camps wherever he deemed them
necessary. He was told to open
his supplies to the victims.
Troops Held Back
General Craig said he could not
comply with the request of Gov
ernor Chandler of Kentucky, to
send Federal troops to help patrol
the inundated sections because of
law prohibiting the services OF
Federal troops in a State before
the State had exhausted all its
own facilities.
More than 4,500 soldiers and 35,-
900 WPA workers were enlisted in
the relief and rescue work today
in addition to 10000 youths and
men from the CCC camps in the
afflicted area. Already 100, 900, 900
comforters, made on WPA sewing
projects, have been shipped to the
devastated sections for diStribu-
tion.
So far the WPA has borrowed or
rented 300 boats to affect reScueS
and to transport supplies while
the Navy stands ready to dispatch
boats, loaded with supplies and
medicine, to the stricken sections
when needed. They will be sent
from Norfolk, Va, and Philadel-
phia ports. Capt. Leroy Weinberg
of Chicago, was designated Coast
Guard commander of disaster re-
lief.
No Expense Spared
Admiral Grayson directed all
his disaster relief directors to
spare no expense or efforts to rush
food, clothing and rescue boats or
other means of transportation to
flood stricken towns.
Hopkins and DR.. Thomas w.
Parran. U. S. Public Health Com
missioner met with Grayson to
make plans for coordinating relief.
All relief requests will be cleared
through the Red Cross, even
though the requests are made
through the WPA, the Army or
other agencies. This was decided
upon to prevent duplication.
Food for 1000 persons for q