Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1918-01-25
RED CROSS HELPS
ITALY IN TIME OF NEED

Red Cross War Council has appro-
priated $4,771,990 for activities of
of the American Red Cross in Italy
from November /, 1917, to May l,
1918. These appropriations are
based upon cabled recommendation
embodying results of observation and
inquiry by Major Grayson NJ. p. Muir
ply. Red Cross Commissioner to Eu-
rope, and also by permanent operat-
ting commission which has arrived
in Italy headed by Robert II. Perkins
of New York The Red Cross actiy-
tiles in Italy were undertaken upon
a large scale after receipt NoVem Der
, of a cablegram from Ambassador
Page to the effect that help was
needed instantly. Major Murphy was
asked to go to Italy. He reports
by cable, when we reached Italy ref
ugees in a pitiful condition were
streaming down from the north. In
describably pathetic conditions exist
the mothers and children and cold,
hunger. disease and death. The I'M
expected military reverse had
stunned the nation. If ever evidence
of friendship and confidence were
welcome to a country it was in those
Gays before the Piave line was estab-
lished. Fortunately the Red Cross
was in a position not only to respond
Immediately to the call of the suf-
fering, but also to carry the message
of the American people to Italy in
the hour of her distress. Working in
conjunction with our own State De-
partm ent and the Italian government,
which received us most eagerly in the
spirit in which we came, we used
every available means of supply and
distribution to assist the ally of our
country"
In November and December the
American Red Cross put at the dis
posal of its temporary commission
for work in Italy $2,98S,464. This
amount has been used mostly for
emergency military and civilian re-
lief and for form alton of contingent
relief fund. Foreign includes
$1,0S8,856 for purchase in this coun-
try of food stuffs, medical supplies
and blankets, and $407,80 for sur
gical dressings, which are being for
warded with all possible speed from
the United States to Italy. In re-
Spouse to cable advices now received
from Perkins, head of the new com
mission to Italy giving estimates of
probable cost of operations for i'm
mediate future war council has ap-
propriated $1,062,O16. Included in
this amount is $SO0,S7O for military
relief, made up as follows: Soldiers
at the front, $4,000; surgical dress
ings service, 100000; canteen and
rest houses, $4,000; administra-
ton, $4,000; hospital service, $415,-
$40; ambulance service, 100000.
To render aid to civilian population
through caring for hundreds of refu-
gees, operating canteens for civil
lans and for other measures of re-
lief, $692, $50 has been appropriated.
Other appropriations are as follows:
For transportation to cover cost of
automobiles, camions, gasoline, rem
tai of cars and garages, -transporta-
ton insurance and salaries of those
filling positions for which volunteers
can not be procured, $59,381. For
bureau of purchases, $7969. For sec
retarial bureau, to cover cost of Of
flee furniture, salaries of clerks, sup
plies, consumed in operating tele
phone, postage, rentals, telegraph,
express, publicity, etc, $41,355. For
bureau of finance and accounts, sal
aries of clerks, cost of stationery,
books, etc, S14.2S0. For bureau of
stores to cover salaries of clerks at
Rome in branch warehouses and for
labor. printing, stationery, travelling,
insurance and rentals, $35,5Sl.
Total amount thus appropriated as
budget from January l to May l for
other purposes is $1,662,O16. In ad-
dition the War Council has author
lied Perkins to apply TO surgical
dressings service and hospital serv-
ice s32,230, and for relief of refu-
gees and for childrens work $S9.2SO,
which has been received in local do
nations. Both the commission to
France and the commission to Italy
have received various sums in dona
tions, some restricted and some unre-
stricted. Where money is restricted
it is added to the Red Cross war
fund, and later appropriated for
work of the commission to which 1t