Red Cross Camp at Reggio.
(Photo by S. H. Chapman.)
CATANIA.
Monday at 6 P. M. we left Messina for Catania, arriving at 10.30 A. M. We were immediately boarded by an officer from the battleship Garibaldi, with the compliments of Rear-Admiral Gagliardi, commanding the second division of the Naval Force of the Mediterranean. The Admiral offered us any assistance we might need; and when I made an official visit to him that afternoon he inquired with much interest about all that could be learned of the situation at Messina and Reggio, and about the expedition. He very kindly made it well understood that we had only to ask to obtain any assistance at his disposal—an offer that I was glad to avail of, for men to assist with handling supplies, transmission of telegrams by wireless, and service of boats. The Admiral returned the visit next day, inspected the ship with evident interest, and expressed his approval of her organization and arrangements, especially in the medical department.
As soon as the Bayern was moored inside the mole of Catania harbor, Lieutenant-Commander Belknap, accompanied by Vice-Consul Cutting, Dr. Scelba and Avvocato Giordana, called upon the Prefect Commendatore P. Ferri and the Sindaco, Signor S. Consoli, placing the ship and her equipment entirely at their disposal. We were welcomed and thanked with the greatest cordiality, and in the afternoon, when the Sindaco, with Madame Ferri, Baronessa Zapalla, and a number of other ladies and gentlemen prominent in relief work came on board, he made a speech of thanks, and presented the following letter:
Catania, January 11, 1909.
Commune di Catania:
With pleasure I express to you, gentlemen, and to all the expedition of the American Red Cross, embarked on board the S. S. Bayern, the heartiest thanks of the population of Catania and of the refugees and wounded who have found here a shelter, for your generous offer of medicines, clothes, food, etc.