New-York tribune., 1909-01-07
GRATITUDE TO AMERICA
PERE4DES ITALY.
Queen Renounces Birthday CeIebrd-
ton Mrs. Griscom Heads
Women's Relief Committee.

fly the Red Cross emblem. Both the King and
Signor Tittoni remarked that it was an ad-
mirable example to the world of international
fraternity for the Geneva flag to fly over ship
carrying aid from one country to another in a
period of distress
Ambassador Griscom will leave here to-mor-
row for Messina to meet the American squad
ron. which is expected to arrive there on Sat
urday. under Rear Admiral Sperry on the flag
ship Connecticut
The steamer Bayern. the American relief ship,
flying the Red Cross emblem, will sail for Mes
sina tomorrow. This steamer, with its great
cargo of supplies. will be able to take care of
thousands of sufferers. There are three spr-
geons aboard and fifty nurses, of whom three
are American and three English. Fifty-eight
thousand dollars have been spent for the medl-
cal outfit provisions and clothes for distribu-
tion ashore. There is an immense supply Of
the necessaries of life aboard. for men, women
and children, particular attention having been
paid to the selection of food for little ones
In the last forty-eght hours $4,000 has been
spent in Rome and $4,000 in Genoa for clothing
alone The cargo includes 1.450 blankets. 1850
pieces Of undercothing, LOO pairs of shoes
100 hats. 800 heavy overcoats. 80 Capes. 1,loJ
shawls. 100 suits of clothes. 500 extra pairs of
trousers and great quantity OF shirts, stock
5000 boxes of matches among the supplies
together with all kinds Of implements for dig
ging and repairing. lanterns. buttons, sewing
cotton. scissors nails and hammers and kitchen
utensils.
There are also medical supplies sufficient for
the establishment Of three complete camp hos
pitfalls ashore. Those IN charge Of the expedi-
ton have $4,000 in small bills for careful dis
trihution.
Word received here from Naples SAYS that
''Hooligans'' during the night ran through va
rious quarters of the city last night. crying
Earthquake! EarthQuake.' Their cries
aroused thousands of people. who rushed out OF
their houses thus giving thieves an opportu-
nifty to work. The frightened population gath
cred in the squares and crowded the churches
Some Of them took crucifxes and the images of
saints and carried them through the streets in
procession amid wailing and weeping
Signor Bertolini, Minister of Public Works,
who is Low in Reggie, has telegraphed TO Pre-
mier Giolitti that the people there are begin
ming TO he more calm and for that reason there
is no present need for steamers for the trans
portatiou OF refugees The minister adds that
efforts snould now be directed toward the send
ing of a great quantity of wood and other build
ing material for the construction Of huts along
the Sicilian ard CaIabrian coasts.
.
is published as having suffered the greatest
damage from the earthquake Bagnara, Cannl-
telIo. Catano. Calico. Gaina, Laganati, Nell
ouca. Melito. Montebelio Motta Palmi, Pellaro,
Pedargoni. San Procopio. Santo Stefano, Scilla,
Seminara. Sfnopoli and San Giovanni.
ALL GRATEFUL TO AMERICA.
The generosity of the American people in
coming TO the aid of the earthquake sufferers
is the predominating feature which IS no" at
,racting attention here The feeling of graft
tud. extends from the King down to the most
lov-Iv subject In accepting. in behalf of the
Italian nation. the ship which the American
neonIe. through the Red Cross fitted up to mit-
gate the distress of the sufferers in the south.
the King said to Ambassador GriscOm: Our
people will be delighted to hear Of this mark OF
international humanitarianism, and VIII follow
with the keenest interest the work Of mercy
which viii be performed by the Bayern"
The King further informed the American Am
bassador that he had just read with the great
est appreciation a telegram informing the Ital-
ian government of the appropriation of SSooooo
in behalf of the victims Premier Glollttl In
spea king of this generosity, said:
What the United States has done on this oc-
casion is magnificent, and shall not he forgot
ten. The United States stands first. outdis-
our gratitude is so great that we cannot ind
words in which to express it. Besides appre-
citation on our part is heightened by the fact
that eo many of our compatriots have found
bospitality in America. With Us it is tradi-
1ional to consider Americans who visit Italy
in such great numbers as our best friends, since
we love their country and their race, because
of its liberal organization and its progressive
principles"
signor Tittoni. the Foreign Minister, said:
.Never before on any occasion has occurred
such demonstration of sympathy as that OF
America 1t includes all classes and conditions
from the President to the humblest citizen
Nothing could more tightly bind together the
two countries or render their friendship closer
Count Taverna the president Of the Italian
Red Cross declared that the offerings coming
from, America were unprecedented also
his devoting in behalf of the relief snip char
tered bv the Rome American committee. a small
norton Of the funds received from the United
States The rule OF the Red Cross is that
funds received by it shall be distributed entirely
bv its own organization. In this case, however.
said Count Taverna. "it would have been like
receiving a loaf of bread and refusing to return
a crumb
Continuing Count Taverna said: The
Americans must be convinced that the amount
they send me wifi be entirely devoted to the
prompt relief of the sufferers. ! personally
pledging myself that this shall be done. At the
same time we must be careful that there shall
not be a want Of money Thus, while the Red
Cross has at its disposal 1.S00 doctors all ready
10 go southwark. il has been deemed eXpedient
tn send out only 125 the reports saying that
that number quite sufficient, while more
would be in the way. Certainly the disaster has
been immense but it has brought forth man
Hesitation OF international brotherhood which
has been remarkable on the part of the United
States.
The same opinions with regard to the gener-
md N.1nra thy of the nations