The sun., 1918-09-09
RED CROSS WINS
ITALY'S GRATITUDE
Twenty Million Dollars Total
Expenditure by the End
Of Present Year.
PROVED U. s. FRIENDSHIP
German Propaganda Had Made
People Doubt Probability
of American Aid.

The wide scope of the Red Cross work
In Italy, where $40, 900, 900 will have been
spent by the end of this year, Is shown
in a statement issued by Henry p.
Dawson showing the use being made OF
the funds; $7,939.653 had been appro-
priated to carry on the work in italy Up
TO July !, 1913, but the enlargement of
the programme there has called for an
additional appropriation this year Of
s12e57ss7.
Figures, however, can give but n
faint idea of the magnitude OF the work
OF relief in which the American Red
Cross is engaged in any field. much
less In Italy" says Mr.. Dawson, where
from the beginning conditions were I'M
usual and the labors of the commission
and its assistants were twofold. namely
affording aid and succor to those in
distress and bearing the advance mes
sage OF fraternal activities on the part
of the United States to those upon
whom the stress of battle was falling"
The American Red Cross has never
been more timely in its efforts in new
was being formed when the Austrian
drive began in 1917 and all Italy was
hlled with refugees from invaded dis
tricts. Workers were Immediately sent
there and began to relieve the situation
with whatever materials were available.
The first two men reached Rome No
Vember s. 1917, when refugees were
pouring in from the Italian plains The
report continues:
Swiftly Care for Refugees,
They appropriated money to the
American Red Cross Clearing House
winch enabled it to open two canteens
Tor refugees at the railroad stations in
Rome four full days before the first
Italian canteen was opened. Shortly af-
terward the volunteer workers who
manned the canteens-American resi-
dents-received word alta o'clock in the
afternoon that $4,000 refugees would
pass through the Portonaccio station on
their way south. The station Is six
miles out Of Rome and the first train
was due to arrive at 6 o'clock.
with but two hours to work, the
eanteen attendants got busy. Jumping
into motor cars. they started out. They
bought all the hams and sausages they
could find. They bought chocolate and
cheese and bread and blankets. Piling
them into their machines. they made nu-
merous trips to the station. They sliced
bread and ham and cheese, and piled UP
thousands OF sandwiches. When the first
train. bearing 1000 refugees. arrived,
they were prepared. Food for adults and
milk for the babies were served. When
the last train pulled out at o'clock the
next morning all of the 1900 refugees
had been fed and provided with suffi-
Cient bla nkpfa kaeD them warm
Work Among Soldiers.
TN addition to the refugees. naturally
the American Red Cross workers gave
great attention to the soldiers at the
front and to their families. Because OF
the German propaganda there had
grown up a feeling among the fighting
men that they were not going TO receive
the support Of America. 1t was a part
of the work OF the American Red Cross
to Offset this propaganda, and 1t was
done in the most effective way-by
deeds. not by words.
During the first three months 1000
packages bearing the stamp of the
American Red Cross and containing
socks, chocolate, cigarettes and a variety
OF useful articles were distributed to the
men in the trenches. Rolling canteens
were sent to the front each canteen
capable OF leeuins oVV 10 l'oVV ieH II
day. Ten were soon In commission
Canteens and rest rooms were estab-
llshed at stations along the railroads
and highways, where the men could find
rest and food II needed. During these
frst three months more than 10000 SOL
diers were cared for.
Ambulance Convince Italians.
80 swift was the German advance
that more than 100 hospitals imme-
diately back OF the lines and two large
magazines of supplies were destroyed
The American Red Cross began at once
TO assist In supplying the needs thus
created, and ISL, 900 articles In the way
Of hospital supplies were provided in
sixty days. Ninety-nine ambulances
MARRIED