I have the honor to submit the following report of the cruise of the North German Lloyd Steamship Bayern, which was chartered and fitted out at Genoa by the American Red Cross, through the American Relief Committee in Rome, and sailed from Civita Vecchia on January 7, with the Committee’s expedition on board, to render aid at Messina, Catania and other places in Sicily and Calabria to sufferers by the earthquake of December 28, 1908:
PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES
On Monday, January 4, about 6 P. M., the Bayern was engaged, to sail in 36 hours (afterwards changed to 4 P. M., Wednesday, without actual loss of time to the expedition), provisioned for 50 first-class passengers for 15 days and 1,000 steerage for 10 days; she was to carry a steam or motor launch, and every effort was to be made to expedite her loading and sailing on time. To the American Consul-General in Genoa, Mr. James A. Smith, the Committee sent the following telegram at midnight, Monday:
American Consul, Genoa:
American Committee for relief work, Calabrian Coast, has chartered German Lloyd steamer, Bayern, now in Genoa. You personally urge agent make every effort get steamer off Tuesday night, fifth instant, and arrive Civita Vecchia early Wednesday afternoon; also arrange with steamer agent to purchase at Committee’s expense and load on Bayern for relief distribution large quantity pasta flour, stockfish, tinned milk and also especially all available sterilized milk, biscuits, olive oil, hams, onions, sausages, beans, potatoes, salted pork, cheese, lard, chocolate, beef extract in jars or tins, macaroni, sugar, also 500 each blankets, trousers, coats. To cover these purchases draw on American Relief Committee Fund Banca Commerciale Italiana, Rome, up to 25,000 lire for food and 10,000 for clothing. Absolutely necessary that steamer have a motor or steam launch on board and other boats suitable for landing along the coast, as this is the main purpose of the expedition. Committee depends upon your active interest to forestall any delay of ship. Report progress Tuesday noon.
(Signed) GRISCOM, Chairman Committee.
Next day, Tuesday forenoon, the amount allotted to Consul-General Smith for purchases in Genoa was increased to 85,000 lire. A very satisfactory report came from him that afternoon, saying that the Bayern would surely be ready for us at Civita Vecchia by eight o’clock Thursday morning.
Definite arrangements were now made for the transportation of the expedition and the Rome purchases to Civita Vecchia. This matter was placed entirely in the hands of Mr. Stein, the well-known Spediteur. The Italian Government placed every facility at the service of the expedition, both on the railway and at the port of Civita Vecchia; and the Navigazione Generale Italiana also instructed its agents there and at all other ports to afford us every assistance, at the same time giving me a letter of the same purport to present to their agents, if necessary. With the way thus cleared, Mr. Stein was able to carry out his part with entire satisfaction and in good time, notwithstanding that Wednesday, the day when innumerable packages and cases had to be collected from shops scattered all over Rome, was a fiesta. Much credit is due Mr. Stein for his success in this.
During the final meeting of the Committee, before the departure of the expedition, about six o’clock Wednesday evening, word was received from Mr. Anniser that the Bayern had sailed from Genoa at 4 P. M. Thursday morning, at 9.30 the expedition left Rome by special train, reaching Civita Vecchia at 10.55. The Sub-Prefect, the Sindaco and the captain of the port met the party and conveyed them on board the Bayern. Mr. Anniser, the steamer agent, had come down by earlier train, and with the local agent of the Navigazione Generale Italiana was attending to all remaining to be done before departure of the steamer; the loading was progressing satisfactorily, and expected to be completed in time for sailing at 4 P. M.