The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-01
Kings Troops Not Ready to
Deliver Smashing Blow.
ARE MOVING like CLOCKWORK
''Italy Not Going OFF Half
Cooked" Says Correspondent.
Slang of U. S. in Ranks; ooh!
You Kid" Shouts Trooper.

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another first-time story. the following
dispatch being the first personal eye
witness story from the Italian front.
Having been the first American cor
respondent to go to the Austrian front
and the first American to be given the
freedom of the British trenches,
Shepherd has now succeeded in land
ing with the Italian army, where even
the Italian journalists have been
BY WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD.
Copyright, 1915.
Udtne, Italy, July NO really
great battle is possible along the Aus
tro-Ita1ian frontier for many weeks
Troops are pressing forward, occupy
ing positions of vantage; important
preliminary fighting is occurring al
most daily; but Italy is not yet ready
to launch her great smash TO win back
Trentino and Trieste.
There has been no delay in the NOV
Mobilization went forward with
clock-like precision. Italian troops
marched over the frontier and seized
points of strategic Importance within
a fortnight after the declaration of
war But General Cadorna is deter
mined that when the Italian offensive
starts rolling down upon Austria, ev-
erything shall be in readiness. Italy
is not going off half cooked
Little Work for Red Cross.
The italian losses in the preliminary
diminishing have been very light.
Everywhere along the frontier 1 saw
magnificently equipped but idle Red
Cross stations. The hospitals at Ven
ice, in Udine and elsewhere near the
firing line are practically empty.
The Italian commanders are elated
at the brilliant performances of their
troops to date. The accuracy of the
Italian gunner in particular has occa-
stoned surprise. At Monfa1cone, for
instance, large guns are hurting shells
twelve miles over mountain peak
mile high with wonderful effective
ness, crashing upon the Austrian forts,
every shot counting
General Cadorna, commander in
chief of the Italian armies, is a mas
ter of details. Often he directs as
many as twenty small battles stimuli
taneously, moving armies like pawns
across a chess board. And in the
midst of all this maze of duties, GEN
eral Cadorna does not neglect his reli-
gious duties He goes to mass every
The man who leads the Italian
armies has the satisfaction of know
ing that the men behind him at Rome
know what is going on at the front. |
King Victor Emmanuel is continuing
his tour of the battle line; Premier
Salandra is showing the greatest in |
terest in the conduct of the campaign, |
and other administrative heads are |
planning trips to the front. The prime |
minister passed through here Sunday |
in a private car en- route to head |
quarters.
Army of Giants.
The italian army quartered here is
of the biggest men physical
" have seen in any army. Through |
many of the regim ents are distributed |
italians from America, CHEEKY fellows
with a love of fighting. One of them
waved his hand at me and yelled:
"Ohi you kid
Correspondents are absolutely bar
ed from headquarters. Officers told
ne: "You must get out of Udine or
submit to arrest" General Cadorna's
secretary put it a little differently eff
you stay here you run the risk of being
shot" he said, then smilingly, "the
italian army won't be ready for cor
for MONTHS