The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-29
Though Last to Enter, She
Learned Lesson Of Unity
Quicker Than Allies.
GERMAN PROPAGANDA FAILS
Government More Firmly Weld
ed to Entente Union Than
Ever Before.

| (This 10 the fourth Of series Of re-
vieps Of the European pdr IN the past
pear, toriftcn for TIC Tymes bv cor
respondents IN the deid.)
ROME, Dec. 2g.--Last OF the allies
TO enter the war, Italy has learned
the lesson OF military. naval, political.
economic, and social unity for sue
cessfui prosecution OF that war more
quickly than her fellow. nations IN the
entente. The year 1915 was the year
In which she showed how we'll she
had learned those lessons.
Italy Joined the allies in May. 1915.
Her army and navy had n theoretical
training for modern war. But for
months after she threw In her lot
with the allies Italy had TO suffer
the hard schooling OF the presentday
battle-ground before she was actually
prepared.
until January I. 1910. we were like
schooiboys. studying strange lessons
but learning them WELL" was the
way a prominent general expressed
IL. But we are nghting now. hight
ing like scientific demons and win
ming. slowly but surely"
Politically. the Italian government
In moro nrmiy welded 20 the allied
union than ever before. Germany's
propaganda, which continually seeks
10 SOW differences among the allies,
has failed here.
Three Movements stand Out.
Alleged German agents, who try 20
turn Italy against England. particu.
larry. md no response. Apparently
the lid has also been effectively
clamped on Gioiitu and his followers.
The old premier's return TO power
during the war IL improbable.
The saiandra ministry fell In early
spring. In Its stead arose the Bos.
SELL cabinet, said 60 be more accept.
able TO France and England. The Inn.
mediate and most radical result OF
the change was Italy's declaration Of
war against Germany. The dispatch /
OF Italian troops TO Saloniki and
France, az well as a more intimate
ministerial contact with the people
followed.
In the last twelve months three
great movements stand out from
i,sly's land nsh,inf. They include
Aurtr,ans In the Trentino. her Isonro |
offensive, and her carso drive. su-
perior in'men and cannon. the enemy
unexpectedly poured through the val |
ieys OF the AdiEe and nrenta last
spring. They were stopped only |
within sight of historic veneto and |
slowly pushed back along the road
they came. They still hold n rocky |
~ IL Al
tino border. their only foothold on
Italian soil.
wi.ser As.srtas.' Any.
In midsummer the Italians concen-
trated their resources for an isonEo |
offensive. IL eliminated In Gorizia's I
fall during the nrst days OF August. |
In late September preparations for n
new drive In the lower carso were /
completed. IL began In early october
and has already brought the nerce'
fighting Italians within several miles
OF Trieste.
Winter. however. IL apparently |
now conspRing with the Austrians
against the Immediate capture OF the /
'unredeemed city"
Almost 1000. 900 soldiers played
active parts In these three theaters
OF war. The Austrians. Il Ia esti-
mated. lost almost a million In dead. /
wounded. and prisoners. The Italian
losses, though admittedly heavy, are
considerably less. Moreover. Italy to-
day holds about $500 square miles OF /
Austrian territory, embracing pros
porous towns and fertile valleys.
Meanwhile. over the skyscraplng
peaks OF CarniR and OF the Dolo-
mites, the Italian arms were also
slowly advancing. strategic posi-
lions. like the mountainous Col al
Lana and the cristallo. fell to King
Victor's men through mining and
other engineering operations. In the
processes OF these captures entire
enemy regiments were often Jellied.
Bottles Up Aastriaa Fleet.
Besides. cadorna's troops have oc-
cupied Argirocastro and Delinno. in
Epirus. Both are ON the road 20
Janina, which Is one OF the principal
towns In Albania. From vallona they
have advanced east TO Koritza, and
with the French. took Monastir.
Macedonia's key.
Cooperating with the army. Itaiy's
navy has bottled up the main Aus
TRAN fleet at Pola. Several times the
Italians have made daring excursions
against Parenzo. Durazzo. Porto Buso
and Pola. bombarding military and
naval works apparently with disas-
trous effects. They have captured or
sunk several enemy transports and
submarines. In addition. the battle
cruiser viribus Units L. believed to
have blown up in the harbor OF Pola.
following an Italian afr raid.
Italy's losses at sea include the
Benedetto Brinand, the Leonardo da
Vinci. destroyed through internal ex-
and several transports and
torpedo boats, said to have been sunk
by the enemy.
Finances Wen OrgaaIxed.
The Italian airmen have REINFORCED
the land and sea fghting. They
have been responsible for successful
aerial bombardments on Trieste, Pola,
Tomezzo, and Sebenico. on
the other hand, enemy aeroplanes