Knowing that the Italian Red Cross was especially well organized for carrying on hospital relief work, because of its field hospitals, fourteen hospital trains and equipment for two ships’ hospitals, besides an active personnel, the American Red Cross transmitted to it through our Ambassador at Rome $320,000 to be applied to its relief work in the earthquake district. The Italian Red Cross, in two previous Calabrian earthquakes and at the time of the Vesuvian eruption, maintained a number of hospitals and relief stations. At the time of the latter disaster the American Red Cross received about $12,000, which was transmitted to the Italian Red Cross. Later a special report was made by this Society of the relief work it performed at that time. A report of the relief operations in Southern Italy will doubtless be issued sometime in the future, but this must not be expected too soon, as experience has taught how long drawn out is relief work after serious disasters. Baron Mayor des Planches, the Italian Ambassador at Washington, in speaking of the Italian Red Cross, said: [Illustration: CHARLES L. MAGEE. Copyright, Harris-Ewing, ’08.] “As the representative of the Italian Government, I desire to give the strongest indorsement of the Italian Red Cross, with which the American Red Cross is in the most intimate relation, and to say that my Government places absolute confidence in this great national organization.” On January 4, the following cablegram was received from Count Taverna: “The Italian Red Cross tenders sincerest thanks to American Red Cross for conspicuous contribution of 1,538,500 Italian lire, received through American Ambassador in Rome, toward the relief of the distressed districts of Reggio, Calabria and Messina, and begs to express its keen appreciation of the feelings of solidarity and warm sympathy with the stricken populations, which have prompted their generous act. “COUNT TAVERNA, President Italian Red Cross.” Since this despatch was received further remittances have been made, bringing the total of the American Red Cross contributions to the Italian Red Cross up to $320,000. [Illustration: ROBERT W. DE FOREST] THE AMERICAN RED CROSS ORPHANAGE [Illustration: Queen Helena.]