Evening star., 1937-01-25

already allotted from regular disaster
relief funds.
White House officials asserted there
was no need for an immediate con-
gressional appropriation.
While it was natural, they added,
for members of Congress from the
flood zone to seek large approprla-
tions for their States, it was con-
tended that w. P. A. funds now on
hand and the Red Cross funds would
prove sufficient for the time being.
At the same time, the White House
said President Roosevelt called an
other conference on his Six-Man
Flood Committee for pm.
Harry L. Hopkins, w. P. A. admin
istrator, was serving as the Presi-
dents liaison man between the five
Federal relief agencies and the Red
Cross.
Many Groups in Action.
The Army, Navy, Coast Guard
Works Progress Administration anc
Civilian Conservation Corps joined
forces yesterday with the Red Cross In
evacuating inundated communities
and in supplying food and clothing
to the homeless.
The President co-ordinated relief
activities at hastily arranged Sun
day night conference and ordered the
cooperating departments on 24-hour
basis.
He then telephoned C. A. Dykstra,
city manager at Cincinnati:
THE Federal Government is stand
ing behind Cincinnati and the entire
Ohio Valley flood zones. am dis
patching more Coast Guard life-saving
crews to your aid.
THE Government stands ready to
aid in any way"
Summary Of Activity.
Here is a summary of the Govern
ment relief situation:
Red Cross-Workers in every al
fected county are providing food,
clothing and medical supplies; more
than 100000 reported homeless; trans
porting supplies is biggest problem.
Army-Fifth Corps Area establish
ing refugee camps; troops evacuating
1000 from Paducah, KY; quarter
master depots and general supply sta
tions opened; engineers say Mississippi
River will absorb food waters without
danger.
Navy: Sending rescue boats and
operating personnel from Philadelphia
and Norfolk, Va; will open Marine
Corps stores and naval supplies when
Red Cross needs further resources.
W.P.A.: 10000 workers evacuating
families and manning food depots;
women making 100000 comforters and
100000 mattresses for refugees; gath
ering all surplus foodstuffs in flood
area; relief rolls opened to destitute
victims
Coast Guard, C. C. C. Aid.
Coast Guard: 800 men, 200 boats,
II planes ordered to region; portable
radio stations attempting to reach
isolated areas.
C. C. c.: $4,000 boys in camps in
stricken area aiding in relief work;
all supplies placed at disposal of Red
Gross.
Maintaining the health of refugees
was as great a problem as providing
food and shelter. Chairman Grayson
said he was worried about the health
situation, but had not received any
''bad reports"
Red Cross nurses and doctors,
rushed to 10 States by boats and spe-
cial trains, worked to combat spread
Of typhoid fever, influenza and pneu-
monia. Oxygen tents were sent to
many communities where cases of
pneumonia were reported.
I'VE are using seruns, boiling water
and taking all the precautions we
can," said Grayson, former naval
physician.
Messages to Red Cross headquarters
indicated the region between Louisville
and Ballard, KY, was in greatest need.
Fifty nurses from Chicago were sent
by boat to distribute food and cloth
ing on both sides of the Ohio River
in that territory.
Army Depots Opened.
Maj. Gen. Malin Craig, Army chief
of staff, said he was sleeping IN the
War Department to keep in direct
touch with the Army's relief work.
After the White House conference, he
said that Army supply depots at New
Cumberland and Philadelphia, Pa;
Columbus, Ohio; Jeffersonville, Ind :
San Antonio, Tex, and Chicago, had
been opened for private relief work
for the first time in years. They were
sending tentage cots, bedding and
medicine to the afflicted areas.
Craig said 4,500 troops were assist
ing in relief and evacuation. He de-
clared it would not be necessary, at
least for the time being, to send regu-
lar troops to Louisville as requested
by Gov. Chandler.
A special White House phone was
held open to bring the President and
his aides latest information. Mr..
Roosevelt asked for copies of all re-
lief messages.
Besides Chairman Grayson, Hop
kins and Gen. Craig, this group in
cluded Admiral william D. Leahy,
chief of naval operations; Robert
Fechner, c. c. c. director, and Rear
Admiral Russell r. Waesche, COM
mandant of the Coast Guard.
The President today set up special
food relief headquarters In the cab
met room OF the White House execu-