An Italian hospital bombarded from the sky and destroyed by hostile aircraft, despite the Red Crosses painted upon the roof and sides IMPRESSIONS OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS COMMISSION 43 centuries. In addition to this there is a very general installation throughout the mountains of telefericas, a system of transportation from one mountain to another across deep chasms, by the use of steel cables from which are suspended small cars. These cars thus suspended are drawn to their destination by a separate cable attached to a stationary engine at one end of the teleferica. By these means mountain tops are reached in minutes practically, where they would only be reached in hours any other way. This rapid method of transportation has been the means of saving the lives of many soldiers wounded on the mountain tops, for at the base of these telefericas are always found hospitals with every facility for the care of the wounded. It of course must be understood that the telefericas are not used for the transportation of wounded alone, but serve to transport provisions and supplies. "We saw numerous camps of Austrian prisoners. A prison camp at the front consists of a large enclosure surrounded by a high barbed wire fence. The soldiers lived in tents while the officers lived in comfortable barracks. After being sent back from the front all are housed in barracks. We talked with many of the prisoners and found invariably an appreciation on their part of the fair treatment they received at the hands of the Italians. We were told that they are given the same rations as the Italian soldiers. Certainly there was every evidence that the prisoners were well treated. "The Commission was accorded the most extraordinary hospitality by the Government officials and all the officers of the Army with whom they came in contact. It was clear to us that there was a genuine feeling of friendship and affection for America and Americans. The admiration that exists all through Italy for President Wilson was evident in all of the many official as well as private gatherings we attended, and mention was always made of the President's wonderful message and of his reply to the Pope, both of which expressed the feeling of Italy with respect to the war so exactly that their enthusiasm and admiration for the President knew no bounds. "While at the front and on our various trips through Italy we were the guests of the Government, and everywhere we went arrangements THE RED CROSS COMMISSION TO ITALY Headed by Mr. George F. Baker, Jr., of New York (carrying a light-colored cane) were made so that we were met by officers and were afforded every opportunity to make our investigation with the greatest possible despatch. We left Italy with a high regard for the manner in which she is conducting her part of the war, and with a feeling of sincere friendship for those Italians with whom it was our good fortune to come to know." Anyone fond of Italy and interested in her welfare will be glad to know of what has been done since the army has been driven back from the mountains onto the plains. Major Murphy, the Commissioner of the American Red Cross for Europe, is on the scene and has taken with him an efficient organization recruited from his staffs in France and Belgium. Their effort is to do everything they can for relief pending the arrival of the permanent organization, with Mr. Robert P. Perkins as Commissioner. An appropriation of 8,000,000 lire has already been made for disbursement by Major Murphy who is rapidly affording relief to refugees and other sufferers. Everywhere the American Commission found that Italy's prisoners of war were being treated humanely and in full accordance with the strictest principles of International Law |