Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-29

President Roosevelt through the State
Department. today sent to King Victor
Emmanuel of italy dispatch expressing
his horror and that of the American people
over the disaster which has befallen
southern Italy and Sicily by the earth
quake visitation and rendering sincere
sympathy.
The President also notes that the Amer
lean National Red Cross has issued an
appeal for contributions to aid the suf-
fed him that it will Immediately COM
municate with the Italian Red Cross
The State Department was without any
advfces during the morning from its diplo-
matte or consular Offices in Italy regard
ing the disaster. At Messina, where the
results of the earthquake are appalling,
the department has both a consul and a
deputy consul. the former being Arthur 8.
Cheney. who was appointed more than a
year ago from Connecticut, and the latter
Joseph H. PIERCE, who Is an Italian by
birth and appointment.
AS private cablegram after cablegram
confirmed the frightful extent of the ca
tastrophe the Italian embassy attaches
freely expressed their grief. When signor
Roberto Centaro secretary of the embas-
estimated that 1900 persons had been
killed he seized his head in his hands and
exclaimed:
my God. How terrible
The delay in receipt of official announce
ment of the news to the embassy from
the Italian government is taken by the
embassy to mean that the officials in
Rome are giving all their attention to
aiding the stricken region of their coun
try.
Il am sure that every one from the
king down to the humblest soldier will
do everything In his power in this great
calamity" said Signor Centaro.
Ambassador Hurrying Here.
Ambassador Mayor des Planches is has
state, having left the city for brief rest
during the holidays. He had planned to
return to Washington tomorrow night.
but his arrival before that time is now
expected.
The American National Red Cross to-
day sent a telegram over the signature
Italian Red Cross at Rome. in the tol-
lowing language:
The American Red Cross desires to
tender to the Italian Red Cross its pro-
found sympathy because of the terrible
earthquake in Italy and Gala bria An ap-
peal has been issued to the American Red
Cross for contributions for the benefit of
the sufferers.
Clothing Not Wanted.
Contributions of clothing for the earth
quake sufferers of southern Italy are not
by the American Red Cross
Miss Mabel T. Boardman Of the executive
Of the society today replied
to an inquiry by DIR. Herbert L. Burrell
IF Int
desirable to send clothing supplies at this
time. but that relief should be In the form
of money contributions. which could be
RENTED promptly. Twenty-Five branches
of the society were notified today to re-
quest money contributions for the earth
quake sufferers. Ordinarily two or three
days elapse before these requests bring
forth returns. Remittances may be made
either through the branches or the So
ciety or directly to the american Red
Cross. Washington. D. c.
The Red Cross Society also requested
the State Department to extend to the
American ambassador expressions Of SYM
pathy from the American society to the
extent relief measures will be necessary.
The Red Cross will have to wait until
are received In response to
the appeal sent out today. as the balance
remaining in the treasury is but $1,000
which will be kept in reserve for emer-
gencies within the United States. On the
occasion Of the eruption of Vesuvius
s12 600 was sent to Italy by the American
society.
There are no American naval vessels
in the vicinity of southern Italy. The
Scorpion. converted yacht, which is at
Constantinople. is nearer the scene of the
disaster than any other American naval
vessel.