Desirable as it is that all relief funds, however raised, should at least be passed through the Red Cross in order to receive public and uniform accounting and speedy transmission, the fact, nevertheless, is that not a few associations and individuals desire to raise funds and themselves forward them. On this account the Italians of New York City naturally enough organized their own relief committee, with the Italian Consul-General, Raybaudi Massiglia, and the American delegate of the Italian Red Cross, Mr. Lionello Perera, represented on it. The New York State Branch of the American Red Cross at once placed itself in communication with this committee. Colonel Sanger, the President of the New York State Branch, also at a later day paid a personal call. The funds collected by this organization, however, were sent directly to Italy to the Italian Red Cross, and not through the American Red Cross. Another committee, called the American-Italian relief committee, was organized and is still engaged in raising funds by the sale of memorial cards. It forwards the funds direct to the Italian Red Cross. Many benefit performances were given in opera houses, theatres and public halls. To the managers of these performances and to the promoters of every relief fund being raised in the city, as fast as announcement of it was made the secretary wrote, asking that the funds collected be sent through the Red Cross as the recognized channel for relief. In some cases personal interviews were had with managers by the Red Cross held agent. The desire in doing this was not, of course, to limit the generosity or to discourage the independent collection of funds, but, as stated, to procure a public, uniform and central accounting. Many societies acceded to the suggestion of the Red Cross and funds collected by churches, Sunday schools, associations, women’s clubs, schools, etc., were sent to Italy via American Red Cross. Several bankers, who cabled contributions direct through their own Italian correspondents, were subsequently impressed with the wisdom of the Red Cross arrangements, and may be depended upon to make future remittances through it.