“After consultation, I asked him to appoint an Italian Committee to do rehabilitation work on the lines we adopted at Chelsea. He appointed his wife Chairman, and with her Countess Taverna, wife of the President of the Italian Red Cross; the Duke of Teuanova, one of the largest land owners in Sicily; the Marquis of San Fernando, one of the largest land owners in Calabria, and Mr. Teneraani, the head of the principal charities of Rome. This is a very strong Committee, and they are doing splendid work—acting rapidly and efficiently. The Committee calls itself ‘Comitato Offerto Americano,’ a ‘Committee of American Offerings.’ This Committee operates wherever they find or hear of deserving refugees, particularly professional men, and a considerable portion of this money is spent at the scene of the disaster as well as in Rome, Naples, etc.” From the Calabrian mountain villages came urgent appeals for help, so Mr. Griscom— “Sent Mr. Nelson Gay, who has lived in Italy for some years, to make a tour of Calabria, and he was accompanied by an officer of the General Staff. He had a wonderful trip and his report is the basis of our present operations. As he went along he telegraphed me his needs and his requisitions were filled in Rome or from France. The majority of his requests were complied with and the goods delivered to him and to the Generals indicated by him in Calabria within forty-eight hours after the receipt of his telegram. This includes the twenty-four hour railway haul, so you see we have our system of operations fairly perfected. The Director-General of Italian Railways gives our shipments the right of way over everything. After Mr. Gay had been there a few days with General Parditi at Palmi, Calabria, the General telegraphed his appreciation of what had been done there to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of War. Mr. Gay visited about forty towns in Calabria, including the highest and most inaccessible villages. To some he brought the first succor since the earthquake.