The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-09-05
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

NEW YoRK.-When Mrs. Roosevelt made
her flight to the South Pacific last year, to
visit and cheer the troops, it was announced
that the Red Cross, whose uniform she wore
for this occasion, bore no part Of the expense
For some reason which never was made clear.
it was stated further, Mrs. Roosevelt would
donate to the Red Cross and the American
Society of Friends each, one half Of the pro-
ceeds of her column for the period of her abb
sence. The amount of that donation has never
been revealed and the Red Cross in Washing
ton, per James K. McClntock, vice chair
man in charge OF finance, now specifically re-
fuses to give the information on the reason
able ground that the Red Cross never does
reveal such data unless the contributor indi-
Gates desire that this be done.
AS a matter OF more or less idle specula-
ton, I might offer a guess that one half
OF Mrs. Roosevelts syndicate royalties for
month would have been not more than ST $780,
However, it is really none of our business how
much she gave the Red Cross, even though
she did invite our interest by this announce
ment which suggested that she was, in some
sense. paying her way.
1nasmuch as the Red Cross did not pay the
expenses then who did?
The four engine ship in which Mrs. Roose-
welt flew was the property OF the people of
the United States and Of type which we
have been told costs about $250,0OO. An execu-
tive OF one Of the large western companies
which builds such planes says there are on
hand number Of special jobs called super.
dupers which are quite ornate and luxurious
by comparison with the wagons which do the
routine hauling. They are held in reserve for
dlgnltarles of the government who have to
keep up in their paper work while in flight
and are not physically hardened to withstand
extreme and prolonged discomfort l find no
fault with that
We were given many details of Mrs. koose-
velt's journey, but this publicity was handled
with more delicacy than we understood at the
time. Although we did hear much about her
progress, including the nose rubbing Incl
dent, we never have been told whether the
ship in which she flew was super duper
or whether, at certain stages of the flight she
was accompanied by protecting fighter planes,
which would have used considerable amount
OF high octane gasoline deducted from the
supply available for civilian use here at nome,
and hauled to the Pacific islands and Aus
tralian bases, every drop of it, in tankers
at great peril and effort. There have been
reports that Mrs. Roosevelt was so accom-
panied, but think it would be useless to ask
General Arnold for information on this point
including details Of gas consumption, because
he could say this was military information and
he would be right Anyway, it would be unfair
The distance Travelled by Mrs Roosevelt, ex-
elusive OF any extra mileage of the escort
fighters and mileage ashore in automobiles
for Mrs. Roosevelt and the attending digni-
tarles Gall using American motor fuel made
available by the self denial OF the people at
home) was about $4,000 miles.
President Roosevelt exhorting the m
front to be patient about the gasoline shortage,
once told that a four engine bomber
consumed LILO gallons of fuel on certain
mission, which on the map appeared to be
about 700 miles At the same rate, Mrs. Roose
welt would have used up in her own SHIP alone,
a little over 10000 gallons. and the cost to the
people, through their taxes, at Is cents
gallon, certainly cheap estimate, would have
been a little over $4,000. This is saying nothing
about the salaries of the crew and other Off
GERS who flew Mrs. Roosevelt and accom-
panied her, of whom we were told when she
got home that there were five.
I know of no way in which civilian osten-
sibly on Red Cross business could repay the
army for such gas and the salaries Of the
soldiers detailed to this duty. If you are on
legitimate Red Cross business there is no rea-
son why the Red Cross should pay the Army.
And if the civilian personally repays the ex-
pense, that Immediately suggests that the mis-
sion was not legitimate.
The upshot of all this seems to be that
George Spelvin American, gave the party and
picked up tab for $4,000, plus, while Mrs
Roosevelt received public credit for contri-
button to the Red Cross which probably did
not exceed one fourth of the minimum es-
timated cost.
so THEY SAY