The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-11-11
ITALIAN ATROCITIES.

From the meagre and somewhat
conflicting accounts printed in the
public press about the atrocities Of
which Italy is said to be guilty in
her treatment of the inhabitants
of Tripoli it is difficult to arrive at
any definite conclusion regarding
the true state Of affairs. Charges
Of a very grave nature have been
made against the Italian army. its
commanders and soldiers. They
have been accused of the wanton
butchery of non-combatants
men, women and children. Ac-
cording to these reports the
Italian soldierv have outrivaled
the Turks in brutal and unchris-
tian disregard for human life and
for the rules of civilized warfare.
At the present moment it is i'm
possible to say whether or not
these reports are true. We can
only hope that they have little or
no foundation in fact. 1t usually
happens that, in the excitement
Of war, all that is barbarous in
man tends to assert itself; and it
is not unlikely that things have
occurred in Tripoli which call for
protest on the part of Christian
nations; but that these atrocities
have been as great as the dis
patches state or that the Italian
army has utterly disregarded the
recognized canons Of warfare in
dealing with the Turks and Arabs,
are questions which cannot be
answered until more reliable news
is received.
We have no special brief. for the
Italian nation; neither do we sub
scribe to the popular adage that
all is fair in war; Ii the Ital-
ians have treated their adversaries
in the barbarous manner stated in
the dispatches we shall not hest
tate to denounce their action in no
uncertain terms; but no one will
deny that we are justified in sus-
pending judgment under the pres
ent circumstances. The first dis
paraging reports came through
English channels, and it is well
known that determined effort
has been made to create an English
public opinion in favor of Turkey.
But if these reports be true the
Italian troops deserve all the
opprobrium that will undoubtedly
be heaped upon them by Christian
people. If they have slaughtered
helpless woman and innocent chill
dren their conduct cannot be con-
doned. The ordinary rules of
Christianity and Of civilization
must be observed by soldiers en-
gagged in actual warfare no mat
ter how great the provocation to
disregard them may be. Whether
they fight against Arab or Indian
the true soldier will do nothing
to bring disgrace upon the flag in
whose behalf he has shouldered
his rife and unsheathed his sword.
In view of the prominence given
in the public press to these reports
derogatory to the Italian army it
may not be uninteresting to recall
one or two instances of some
what similar nature which oc-
Cured during the past year. When
the Christians Of the Island of
Crete were oppressed by their
Moslem rulers the newspapers
gave considerable space to protests
in which the European powers
were called upon to intervene in
an effort to ameliorate the con
dition of the Cretans.
Later on, when the young Turks
began to harass their subjects in
Albania with fire and sword and
to destroy their homes and confs-
cate their possessions no cutlery
was made by the secular press
which had protested in the case OF
the Cretans. No efforts were made
to influence the world powers to
intervene on behalf of the Chris
tians of Albania.
What was the reason for this
discrimination? Were the Chris
tians of Albania less worthy Of
sympathy and assistance than
those of Creteg Surely the answer
is not to be sought for in the fact
that the Christians of Albania
were Catholics and those of Crete
were not? IL this consideration
influenced the press in this case,
are we not justified in discountine
largely the reports of Italian
atrocities that are now being
i cirenlafndq For tho honor nf !