With our hearts still vibrating with gratitude and admiration for the work of fraternal solidarity and beneficience accomplished by you, Mr. Commandant, together with your representatives of the American Red Cross, we again repeat to you all, in the name of the Province and the King’s Government, our heartfelt thanks. To all the gentlemen on board the _Bayern_ we send good wishes and greetings. PREFECT FERRI GAGLIARDI. To this the following reply was sent by telegraph to Prefect Ferri, and by letter to Admiral Gagliardi: To COMMENDATORE FERRI, Prefect of Catania, and REAR ADMIRAL GAGLIARDI, Commanding the Second Division of the Naval Force of the Mediterranean: Your message sent me at Reggio by wireless telegraph has been received, and I will have the honor to deliver it to His Excellency the American Ambassador at Rome, for communication to the United States Government and to the Red Cross of America. The warmth of your appreciation of our efforts makes a deep impression in our hearts. To be so cordially associated with the noble work of the King’s Government and the devoted people of the Province of Catania is an honor that will always be remembered with pride and affection. With distinguished consideration, R. R. BELKNAP, Lieutenant-Commander U. S. Navy, Naval Attachè at the American Embassy, Rome, in charge of the American Red Cross Expedition. Although no refugees were to be sent by us, we were asked, and properly authorized by the Prefect, to take twenty-four orphan children, under charge of a carabinieri, to Genoa for delivery there to representatives of the Provincial Committee of the Province of Como, where we understood the children were to be placed in families. The Little Sisters of the Poor also were glad to avail themselves of the opportunity for transportation of six of their number, who had been hurt in the earthquake or were completely worn out with their subsequent efforts, and eleven old men and one old woman in their charge, all bound for Rome or Naples. There was, besides, an Italian woman with three children, wife of a naturalized American citizen in the United States, who was to be taken to Genoa. All these were on board by the time our dinner was over, so that we could have the pleasure of showing our departing guests the children, all bathed and put into fresh beds, still wide awake, bright-eyed and happy in the novelty of their surroundings. I am glad to say that the children continue happy, as also the old people, throughout the voyage. They were fitted out with additional clothing purchased at Palermo, and on arrival of the steamer at Genoa they were safely delivered to the proper authorities.