The San Francisco call., 1896-01-25
VOLUNTEERS FOR AFRICA,
Italians Who Wish to Form a
California Company for
AbySSinia.
FULL OF ARD0R TO FIGHT.
G. Firpo of Los Angeles Inaugurates
the Movement-An Appeal to
the Papers.
FULL OF ARDoR TO FIGHT.

A movement is on foot among band of
ganize volunteer corps and start for the
Dark Continent to strike blow in Italy's
cause against the hosts of dusky Abyssin-
ians who are at present investing Ma
kalle.
In Italy itself the war fever has risen to
high pitch and echoes of the patriotic
sentiments are waited across the ocean
and the continent by means of newspapers
and magazines and by the recitals of trav-
elers who have recently come from the ro-
mantle peninsula.
Signor A. Devote, who has just returned
from long tour in Italy, says that on all
hands he was surprised by the ardor
displayed by young men, who are anxious
to volunteer for active service. On the
railroads he met trains full of soldiers
singing and hurrahing for Joy that they
were being sent to the front, and the SOL
diers in garrsons at the large cities were
growing restless 10 go to the war.
''In my native town, near Genoa" he
said, ga telegram was received stating that
eight men were needed to complete con-
tingent. The commanding officer asked
the men who wanted to see active service
to step forward, and every soldier in the
garrison presented himself as volunteer.
The men who had the strongest constitu-
tions combined with the best good service
record were permitted to form the eight
needed to complete the contingent. In
some of the large garrisons where there
are thousands of soldiers the men have
volunteered for active service without
single exception"
Recitals of this warlike ardor at present
pervading Italy have inspired a band
! -, 1f
the State with the desire to shed their
blood in the desert sands of Africa if need
be and leave their bones to bleach in the
sitting Abyssnian heat before Makalle.
Thirst is one of the worst enemies the
troops have to fight, and it has grown to
be proverb In Italy when place is un-
bearably hot and suffocatlng to exclalm,
"This is like Massowah."
The movement for organizing Cali
fornia volunteer contingent has started in
Los Angeles, but Italians from all over the
State have been invited to enroll them
selves.
G. Firpo is the head of the new move
ment, and the scope of the scheme, for
which he is now working in Los Angeles,
is explained in a letter which has been
published in the various Italian papers in
this State. After commenting on the
stirring news which daily arrives from
Africa, he continues:
It would be fine also for US, far away from
the mother country, to lend her our aid.
The Italian colony in California, which is so
large and so full of ardor when patriotism is
called for could form regiment of volunteers
and go to Africa to lend aid to our soldiers and
hold aloft the honor of our tIi-colOEed flag. I
hope that the San Francisco colony will look
with favor upon the proposition and will de-
eide TO act.
A number of Italians in Los Angeles have
considered the idea ana would willingly unite
themselves with others of their race to go to
the theater of war; fight our foes and return
victorious.
beg you. to give space in your esteemed
paper to this proposition and to pardon the
liberty of having demanded it. With much
esteem, G. FIRPo.
No action has yet been taken by men,
hers of the local Italian colony to join the
volunteers, but it is understood that
Firpo and his friends are pushing their
scheme at Los An eles.