“Messina and Reggio destroyed by an earthquake” flashed over the wires and appeared in our press the last days of the year. The terrible news, with its story of the fearful loss of life and property, seemed too appalling to be true. The world, though stunned by its magnitude, was yet to learn that no pen could describe the horrors of a disaster unparalleled in modern history, and that only those who saw the scene of devastation soon after the catastrophe have any realization of its terrible results. As for those who lived through the earthquake and escaped, the mental fear and physical agony they had undergone left their minds dazed and blank. When some realization of the truth dawned upon the world a wave of sympathy was awakened everywhere. It is especially for such times of disaster that the Red Cross has its being, and the call for help was immediately issued from headquarters at Washington. The President and Governors of States were notified that our National Society was ready to receive and transmit the contributions our people were glad to make for suffering Italy. President Roosevelt, in his cables to the King of Italy, expressing his own and his countrymen’s sympathy, stated that the “American Red Cross has issued an appeal for the sufferers.” Many Governors of States issued proclamations, asking that all contributions be sent through the American Red Cross. How promptly and how generously, our people expressed their sympathy in tangible shape is known everywhere. Glad were we in America to do what we could to help our suffering fellow-men in beautiful and well-loved Italy. Something of what the American Red Cross, our national member of that greatest of all institutions of international brotherhood, has been able to do with the contributions it has received is told in this BULLETIN by those who in Italy have helped to administer the funds. In all of this work the Society has had the most valuable and untiring assistance of Mr. Lloyd Griscom, the American Ambassador at Rome. It cannot too strongly express its appreciation of all that he has accomplished in the line of careful and prompt use of the money it has sent. What our Red Cross has accomplished has been done with a sincere desire to be of help, with a deep appreciation of the complex and difficult problem Italy has had and still has to face, and with the hope that the wounds of this beautiful country, so recently devastated by this terrible calamity, may soon be healed and the people re-established in a happy and prosperous life. [Illustration: MAJ.-GEN. GEORGE W. DAVIS Copyright, Harris-Ewing, ’08.] [Illustration: ERNEST P. BICKNELL Copyright, Harris-Ewing, ’08.] CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ITALIAN RED CROSS