Imperial Valley press., 1918-08-10
WITH The RED CROSS.
How That Organization Helped ia.
During Greatest Trial Of History.
BN kaLn Z. Horton.


nina, described by American tsare!-
lecturers as "the most beautiful riace
in the world" is now one Of the plin
cipaI places of shelter for the refr
gees from the north Of Italy. Be
sides its warm, sunny climate, which
makes it an ideal spot for these dcS-
citute and homeless ones, this bcauti.
full winter resort Of eastern Sicily
lends i.self particularly well as res
iag place for the refugees because of
its many hotels, filled in other days
with tourists ana visitors from every
corner Of the world. These have been
turned over to the newcomers for
dwelling places. ahcrc they I've IN
family groups, clubbing together To-
, their meals. as do The travellers n the
emigraut steamers - .nomads n the
desert. 49,,
At the present tanc Taormiaa has
5ors nearly 2000 Of these fugitiyes,
driven from their homes by she IN
qasion Of Austro-Gcnman troop The
hardshirs that these people endured
IN the course Of that flight vas ap-
Iraliing. Many OF them walked con-
ruously for five days and i've nights
in torrential rains, crossing swollen
streams and soiden plains with ever
tho horror of a pursuing enemy be
mind. before reaching the trains tIut
carried them to safety and shelter
in southern Italy. In the mad st,m-
pede, household treasures, at FIRST
Iguarded ieaIousIy, were tossed aside
children were torn from their parents
and ne cid and feeble were tramulec
under foot or left behind. The iils,
800 that came to T2ofmi1a, socmia&-
ly unable to escape rain wherever they
might he, arrived Mt midnight i
what was very near cioudGuISt, q
railway station two anl on, lalt
miles from town. A number Of these
preferred to remain in the station IN
; til daylight The remainder o. som
100 climbed the steep footpath lcadjn!
70 Taormina in utter darzre5
drenchcd with the dowrrour ami j.
7 great fear Of the height to which tha.
were being taken. The old ami fee,l
We're transported IN carriage IL
: Of those who reached Taor0i@a thl
e night were housed and given :. lo
4 meal at once
After the ques ion Of housing an,
food came the problem Of c,pc1i4e
for most Of the refugees had only tn
clothing in which lhcY arrived, nav i.
woeful shape. Others who e5cl' pd i:
the night wcie halS t;aG. Local cor
mittees 70, clothing tac d-stItH'r wer
quickly formed. Sayc,nl thousaaa lie
on materials for dresses for tie Won
en- and children were cvpendce. while
the villas or the Forester (thc non-
resident winter visj,ors) were scar. d
for clothing for the men
TO asai,. in providing c.othin" ror
the refugee women which would en-
able them to support themselves and
their dependents, the American Red
Cross recently contributed TO The To-
cal Italian war committee the sum
Of 25o0 Dire with which to bay sbc
wool and pay lhe refugee workers for
Knitting socks and gloves for the ila!-
ian soidio This double relief work
/ berefitiuG both The refugees and the
soldiers, has proved very success, -9I
The contrast between their present
haven and the terrible experience
through which they have SO .crrtIy
passed with The loss Of differaa 4cu-
bers Of thcir ia anilics, has lroaeht
the spirits OF the refugees uea i bae.
to normal. They hope 20 ha, aaws
before long Of their lost ones aa are
living in one OF the natural Beauty
spots Of the woil with chance 10
gain thsr iivina ty their ota ec-
forts.
Vc4iIe, This IS 4 season 0, (r""l
The PEOPLE haven't even caae1.ooI
Elecause baseball has been dor. m,.g
with.
Gb" German .roops like = maG
portion Of liquor before break 81, but
they refuse any Scotch
+ #
ny Ire *'ay did my Of you ever
Lea- CI an A@L.l.A..l .u-lL.--.