Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-25
ITALY IS EXPECTED
TO PROVIDE SHIPS
FOR PATRIOTS HERE
Downtown Colony Resents
Report That Volunteers
From Philadelphia Will
Be Told to Pay for Their
Passage Home.

Italians Of this city expressed indigna-
ton today that false report had been
srread TO the offect that the italian Gov
eminent was expecting volunteers to en-
list promptly and pay their own way
home. or at least half Of it, that Is, f23.
when the time comes transportation
viii be provided for Italians here free Of
charge"
This was the opinion. expressed with
conviction. by all well-lnformed persons
in the downtown Italian quarter. They
added that It was known that the various
consulates in this country had received
no official notice from the Italian Am
bassador to call for recruits. and that it
was rather early to talk Of refusal to
pay for transportation before the mother
country had considered 1t necessary even
TO tell reservists here 20 hold themselves
in readiness for a call to the Colors.
Speaking of colors, there were plenty
OF them in Little Italy today La Banda
Rosa di Grassano. that is to say the
Red Band OF Grasssno, musical organ!-
zatlon conducted by Luigi Lucantonio.
played at various street corners
The members of the band wear brill
liant red coats. and the martial airs that
peared never failed to bring together
large crowds of enthusiastic Italians.
Cannonadng started in Christian street,
near sth, shortly after noon. and every
body within a radius of four squares
rushed 10 the scene The air was full of
gunpowder smoke. There had been half
a dozen loud reports, but IL was not
even a revolver, as 1t turned out. Some
body had set off bunch of giant fire.
crackers outside the Church OF Our Lady
of Good Counsel, wheua the centenary
OF tho feast of Our Lady of Consolation
Is being held.
Alfred Perhlia. an editor of L'Opinione.
has returned from Pittsburgh. where he
attended the convention of the order Of
the Sons of Italy of Pennsylvania. He
Is secretary of the order. Mr.. Perfilia
Mas greatly incensed at the actions of
the Pittsburgh police, who seemed to
think that some breach of neutrality was
being planned by the order.
The Italian delegates, who came from
all parts of the State. were amazed to
zee large squads of police surround the
hall as II they expected riot. The
police department had hard time apollo
gizing for their intrusion. The delegates
sent cabegram to the King of Italy
declaring that they stood ready Ito go
to Italy for the defense OF the rights OF
the Fatherland." and telegram to Pres
ident Wilson indorsing his attitude toward
Germany.
complete hospital corps in charge of
italian physicians of this city may be
sent to Italy as the result OF cam
paign for funds which has been begun
by a committee of men prominent in
the Italian quarter downtown. Those
who are prominent in the movement are
G. c. A. Bald, GIulio Carunchio, F. "
II. Nardi Prof NJ. Ilitlto, Professor
Tosti. DIR. V. De VlrgiIis, Giovanni Ric-
ciardi. Prof. Alfonso Rosa. septimIo Peca,
Frank Travascio and Benjamin De Vec-
chis. II is the intention of these msn
TO ask a number OF representative Italian
Americans and American women to Join
them in a large Red Cross Committee
that will work to raise funds and collect
supplies OF food. clothing and other neces-
sar1es and send them to the soldiers and
their families -----7------,