AUSTRIA.
On December 31st the Austrian Samaritan and Life Saving Society of Vienna offered to the Italian Government their kitchen wagons to use in the cooking of food for the thousands of hungry and homeless people. The offer was accepted with thanks. Large amounts of money and supplies were promptly contributed for this expedition, so that not a penny of the regular funds of the society were required. The railroads gave free transportation. There was much delay in reaching the scene of the disaster because of the interrupted railroad service, and because the lines were blocked with train loads of wounded and refugees who were being aided by members of the Italian Red Cross at relief stations situated in and about stations along the route. All along the journey officials of the Italian Red Cross received and assisted this Austrian Relief Expedition. The kitchen wagons were established at Catania, where about thirty or forty thousand refugees had congregated. The next day after their arrival some twelve thousand refugees who had not tasted warm food since they left Messina received good, hot meals, the kitchen wagons being in operation from six in the morning until eight at night.