Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-17
ARMY TAKES TO ART
Italian Soldiers Doing All in Their
Power to Preserve the
r Works Of Art.
ARE LOOKING TO FUTURE

June 1s.-A department Of fine arts
is one of the features Of the Italian
army. 1t is attached to the genera
staff, and it has proved to be such
a highly important feature in mod.
crn warfare that admiration of it was
expressed by General Joffre and the
late Lord Kitchener during their visits
to Italy.
This art department was organized
by General Cadorna, commander in
chief of the Italian armies, primarily
for the purpose of protecting and pre-
serving the art treasures in the fight.
ing areas, not only in Italian terri
tory, but in places taken from the
Austrians. Ugo Ojetti, an art critic
of international reputation, who has
long been officially identified with
Italian art and architecture, was ap-
pointed head of the department just
year ago, since which time many
million dollars worth of art treasures
have been taken in charge.
r Kept Well informed.
The art department is kept fully in
formed regarding any new advances
on the part of the Italian army, and
it frequently acts under artillery fire.
Once the Austrian troops have been
definitely dislodged, the art depart
ment conducts a thorough search for
art objects, and takes complete charge
Of those that the Austrians have left
behind. The search often leads into
graveyard tombs and into vaults un-
der churches, where the treasures
were hidden for safe-keeping in the
earlv days Of the war. But in many
instances the Austrians have taken
everything away with them. For in
stance, they removed 1000 objects
from the archaeological museum at
Aquileja on the night Of April 28,
1915, according to Lieutenant Ojetti,
at the very time Austria was offering
this city to Italy through diplomatic
channels.
According to Lieutenant Ojetti, it
was the policy of Austria before the
war to hide from the Italian popula-
ton all the Roman remains suggestive
of the Italian origin Of the country in
what is now known as "unredeemed
Italy," but he said that after the war
the world will have, through the new
Italian occupation, a much larger
store of Roman antiquities, the exist
cnce Of many Of which has hitherto
been unknown.
Work Of Department.
The work OF the art department in
Venice has given that city the aspect
of much bandaged foot ball player.
All Of its monuments have been care
fully protected against the stray
shells Of Austrian aeroplanes. II Is
estimated that no less than zoo, 900
sacks full of sand have been placed
around the finest buildings and monu-
ments. By actual count 10000 such
bags protect the Basilica OF St. Marks.
In addition, so extensively have
wooden supports been put about GER
tain buildings that many OF them, such
as the ducal palace, seem to have
been rebuilt. Because OF the peculiar
OF the ducal palace It
was feared that Z single shell striking
I given building might result in the
collapse Of the entire structure and
the loss to the world OF a priceless
example OF architecture. Bags OF
sand could not be used because their
weight might cause the buildings to
fall or sink. II was necessary to erect
4 full set OF brick or wooden arches
to catch the real ones, should they be
moved by the shock Of a shell.
Lieutenant Ojetti, aided by the half
sailor masons Of Venice, labored for
weeks, until now almost every monu-
nent famous for its artistic value has
been covered in some manner. Of
course 1t has been impossible to cover |
the campanile, and such tower-like |
but the interior ceilings
md paintings were removed wherever |
possible. A typical example of the
extreme care used to protect the mas
.erpieces was seen at the Scuola di
San Rocco, from the walls OF which |
were removed all the famous oils by
rintoretto.
In an interview with the corre-
,pondent Of the Associated Press,
Ojetti told Of his work,
ind said the war, instead OF killing |
he artistic spirit, would make the art |
teasures Of the old world more loved |
han ever.
Soldiers Are Instructed,
Right in the midst Of this great
var" he said, the Italian govern
nent Is doing its utmost to protect
III objects Of art, and the rudest SOL
Tiers in the trenches show decided
interest in art objects. For instance,
It Aquileja. which we finally took
rom the Austrians, we dug up an old
Roman mosaic, and not only the king
ias visited Il many times, but thou
,ands and thousands Of our soldiers
10 likewise.
within ten years look for the
development OF a new epoch, in both
lrt and literature, not only in Europe
tut in the United States. expect
Q see the world developing q manly
literature embodying both human and
.ternal elements. Mankind will have
.ome to simpler and more profound
way Of thinking. Our old art treas
ires will be cherished because human
ty will have need OF rest from
worry over material matters, and OBJ
ects of fine art are the consolation
II a tired spirit. All art movements
n history have originated in unhappy
ocial conditions, in the need Of men
al refuge from material, earth-to-
:arth WEAKNESS.
The new art period will be one of
.lassic simplicity, with vast amount
# architectural production, and SOL
mn and impressive monumental
sculpture, but with little painting.
In literature, the knell OF the
nervous, womanly, sentimental, weep