Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1915 — AMERICANS LURED TO EUROPE—TURNED ADRIFT [ARTICLE]

AMERICANS LURED TO EUROPE—TURNED ADRIFT

Hired to Care for Horses On Way to Allied Armies—Promises of Pay Not Kept. London, March 2.—Many Americans have been induced to ship on British steamers as horse tenders, with promises of pood pay and a return ticket to Ameica, only to be turned adrift penniless in England or France. Such vessels run from American ports to England and France with remounts for allie?. The men are engaged to care for the animals on the way over. They are assured they will receive from sls to $35 for their work, and will be supplied with a return ticket or an opportunity to work their way back on another steamer. On arriving they often fail to get the money promised and are turned loose to shift for themselves. Sometimes they receive $2.50 and an order for return .passage on a ship sailing a month hence. Obviously the man can not wait, and often he offers to work his way home for nothing. These men have been appealing for help to American officials in London. Since November 1 more than 100 have made known their distress. The American relief committee can help only Americans impoverished by the war. It can not aid men who have, come over since the fighting began. Hence nothing can be done for these' stranded citizens. American officials in England and France are today making every effort to discourage Americans fom coming into the war zone, lured by promises of shipping agents in America. For years the mistreatment of American seamen coming to Europe on foreign vessels has been the subject of much complaint, but since the opening of the war conditions have become much worse. There are evidences of a general understanding between ship officers and shipping agents to fleece unsuspecting and inexperienced men.