Evening star., 1915-07-28
ITALIAN RESERV|STS
EXPECT WAR LOOT
Dream of Day Without Work
Leads American-Born
to Front.
OTHERS RISK BULLETS
TO SEE HOME COUNTRY
Not Stirred by Patriotic Motives, and
Therefore Are Not Keen
About Conflict.

NAPLES. July 15-"In one month one
man made enough money so he could
retire from the war said Mike Nico-
letti. He is rich"
So we got on the train of curious
conviction held by the fifty Americ can
born Italians who came over with us on
the Patria to enlist in the Italian army.
Many of them believed it possible to
make great deal of money at the
front. War appealed to them as sort
of get-rich- quick game. None of them
seemed moved by any feeling of patriot
ism. At the best war was an adventure.
This man" said Mike Nicoletti. cap
tured an Austrian flag. SO they gave
him 100000 francs and he left the army
and bought a vineyard. He will never
have to worn any more"
Nicoletti was born on Bayard street.
New York. His most recent job was
that of deckhand on one of the At
lantic Highlands steamers. He and his
comrades had a weird array of tales of
men who had by force of arms achieved
wealth. One of these soldiers of for
ture had, il seems. found tremendous
dia mOnd belonging to an Austrian. He
at once left the army and went to New
York None of the men on the Patria
had seen him. but several had seen
others who had talked with men who
had seen him.
But you can't leave the army so
easily" pessimistic first cabin passen-
gers pointed out to these youngsters.
They, shook their heads and laughed
wisely.
"Ah,' they said, leave it to us"
On Tour of Adventure.
Not all of the American-born had
enlisted for the loot. Two or three
had been fired by the tales the old
folks told of sunny Italy. They thought
they would settle down in the old
country" and live happy ever after.
They had figures to prove that for a
few hundred dollars year they could
live in luxury. No figures were offered
as to the manner in which the few
hundred dollars were to be procured.
any Yankee. They not only talked
American and cheered American, but
they thought American. They professed
complete contempt for the low
class Italians with whom they asso-
ciated in the steerage. They were on
a tour of Italy at the cost of the gov
ernment. In return for sightseeing
they were cheerfully ready to be shot.
Others just hoped for adventure.
One suspected Fred Ray of 1S Lily
Il served my time in the United
States Navy" said he. See, l wear
the badge"
His bit of bronze was pinned to his
belt. He had been shot through the
breast at some place in Mexico-"We e
called it the Marble Corridors"-Which
may have been Vera Cruz, and invalid
ed home.
You must like the game" said a
first Ca bin passenger.
Nope" said Ray, shaking his head.
Had a row with my wife,
Mike Nicoletti threw new light on
poor Rays romance.
He was just married." said Nicoletti.
land he cries all the time
Not Keen on the Job.
None of the Italian reservists pro-
fessed an entire Willingness to fight
Do not construe this as indicating any
disloyalty to Italy's cause 1t is mere
| ly that, as sensible men. they preferred
the peace and comparative luxury and
| high wages of New York to the toll
| and privation and death of tn,
| trenches. They were not stirred by an.
patriotic motives, because they hardly
| knew what it was all about. They hat
| been called to come home and fight
| Very well, then. They would go hom'
and fight. Being young and full O.
| ginger they cheered at intervals. Blu
they were not keen on the job.
| why did you obey the CALI"
| Because. after all, Italy is home" Il
them. Some plan a happy life as keeper
years of toll with pick and shovel II