Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-13

am persuaded that their goodness
equals their competency for good"
sanization to the substance of the re-
lief problem. the committee took up
the challenge of circumstance. now
that the first emergency calling for
assistance in leaving home and in
transit had passed. Its findings follow:
For a Further Emergency.
If for n reason there should be
further retirelnent-for example, to
the line of the Adige-several large
towns, including Verona. Vicenza,
Padua and Rovigo, would be affected.
We are informed that definite orders
have been issued against the evacua-
case of invasion. The inhabitants have
been officially advised remain where
they are, chiefly, no doubt, for the
reason that with the present limited
supply Of food it would be impossible
TO care for SO great al influx of popu-
latton in the remaining part of the
country, and also because property
would be sacrificed which might be
preserved by the owners if they re-
NAMED to- look after it.
While these reasons are valid, it
must be anticipated that in case of
retirement there would certainly be
a great exodus OF the part Of those
who would not wish to remain within
the enemy lines, and this retirement
the Friuli. by all the more confusion
hardship because not included
within the plans of the authorities or
even contrary to their policy. The
American Red Cross should be ready
to cooperate in meeting any such
econd emergency. The first came
without warning; but for any prevent
a hln h2 RI chine roo,,lt{~~ fra-, <,%L.,
possible retirement there would be no
such excuse.
Ample supplies of blankets. cloth
ing ard food should be collected rs
far north as Bologna, in greater
quantities in Florence inc in the iarg-
err centers to which the refugees will
be semitic the west, to the south and
the southeast. For those who move
westward the natural place for the
h Umanitaria, to which we have re-
ferred: the Bonomelli. a smaller or
~ganization with similar facilities. and
our American relief committee would
all be ready to help the official au-
thorities. For those who go down the
east coast the stores and hospital ia
cilities established for the Venetian
refugees at Rin1ini, and food and
clothing stations at Ravena and An
>S "SAAA III lILO play. Inc
main stream, however, would come
through the central funnel at Flor
ence. and we would emphasize the
great Importance of having extensive
stores at Bologna and Florence avail
able for instant use by the proper
agencies in those places on the initia-
tive OF Il representative in Florence.
Further west and south a relief pro-
gram could be worked out more de-
l1ihaf re iolS. a I TI,rt,, s>,@ ~-,y.- -,-1
IN Sicily, but at each place we should
be ready to give assistance at the very
moment of arrival.
The Venetian Colonies.
Aside from the possibility of a sec
snecial movements of population in
which the American Red Cross has a
legitimate interest. The most impor-
tant Of these is the present continuing
evacuation Of Venice. Apart from any
question of a nearer approach by the
f: enemy it has been thought advisable
to evacute the civilian population of
Venice.
Fortunately. it has been possible to
do this all deliberately and in such 4
way as to prevent the indiscriminate
scattering of the population. although
many inhabitants of veHezia were. of
course. included in the original rush
of refugees to the south and west.
The gradual removal which has since
been going on, in contrast to what
happened in the first days of the in
v~asion, is more like an orderly misra-
ton. 1T has. in fact. been compared
with the swarming Of a hive. Up
wards Of ten thousand colonists have
thus been taken to certain villages
selected for the purpose in the neigh
borhood Of Rimini. Many of those
people were employed in Venice in
workshops established for the purpose
Of giving needed employment to wom-
en-. and the equipment Of these shops
has been transferred bodily to the
new locality.
with Red Cross funds supplied by
us a hospital has beer established for
the benefit of this colony in Rimini in
charge of a Venetian physician who
formerly directed a hospital in Venice.
The italian Red Cross provides the
! nurses. This is an extraordinarily in