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The American Red Cross Bulletin (Vol. IV, No. 2, April 1909)American National Red Cross

History

The American Red Cross Bulletin (Vol. IV, No. 2, April 1909)

Name: The American Red Cross Bulletin (Vol. IV, No. 2, April 1909)
Author: American National Red Cross

American National Red Cross

American National Red Cross -- Periodicals; Red Cross and Red Crescent -- Periodicals

As soon as the _Bayern_ was moored inside the mole of Catania harbor,
Lieutenant-Commander Belknap, accompanied by Vice-Consul Cutting, Dr.
Scelba and Avvocato Giordana, called upon the Prefect Commendatore P.
Ferri and the Sindaco, Signor S. Consoli, placing the ship and her
equipment entirely at their disposal. We were welcomed and thanked
with the greatest cordiality, and in the afternoon, when the Sindaco,
with Madame Ferri, Baronessa Zapalla, and a number of other ladies and
gentlemen prominent in relief work came on board, he made a speech of
thanks, and presented the following letter:

                                          Catania, January 11, 1909.

    COMMUNE DI CATANIA:

    With pleasure I express to you, gentlemen, and to all the
    expedition of the American Red Cross, embarked on board the S.
    S. _Bayern_, the heartiest thanks of the population of Catania
    and of the refugees and wounded who have found here a shelter,
    for your generous offer of medicines, clothes, food, etc.

    The relief brought by you will be effective to lessen the
    sufferings of so many wretched people, who have been deprived
    in a few moments of their relatives, of their beloved native
    town, and of every possession.

    With esteemed consideration,

                                                         The Mayor,
                                                         S. CONSOLI.

    To Signor Reginald Rowan Belknap, Lieutenant-Commander, Naval
    Attachè to the Embassy of the United States of America in Rome.

To this the following reply was sent, both letters being published in the
local papers:

                      Expedition of the American Red Cross,
                      Steamship _Bayern_, Catania, January 12, 1909.

    TO THE MAYOR OF CATANIA:

    In response to your gracious letter conveying the thanks
    of the citizens of Catania for our offer of assistance, I
    have the honor, in the name of His Excellency the American
    Ambassador, and also of the American Red Cross, to express to
    you the sincere friendship and heartfelt sympathy which all
    our countrymen feel for this beautiful land and its people,
    especially in this time of sorrow.

    To have relieved in some small measure the distressing needs of
    those we love is a cherished privilege, and the gratitude which
    you have sent to the United States will carry there widespread
    thankfulness.

    With distinguished consideration,

                                                      R. R. BELKNAP.

    Lieutenant-Commander, Naval Attachè to the American Embassy,
    Rome, in charge of the American Red Cross Expedition.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The American Red Cross Bulletin (Vol. IV, No. 2, April 1909)

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