The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-29

fensive which the italians have
launched from time to time rendered
It impossible for Austria to carry out
her purpose of sending troops ana &
tillery either to the aid OF the German
crown prince for the attack on Verdun
or to fight the Russians.
Issues Official Statement.
AS given out, the Italian statement
reads as follows.
THE war which Italy is fighting
with her allies is imperfectly under
stood abroad in its ideals as well as IN
its technical development, thus need
ing explanations even after year OF
Italy's participation in the conflict.
When the European war began
Italy held back for ten months. re-
speeding the alliance which for third
of a century had bound her to the
Central Empires. But longer than
this she could not disregard the call
of the entente powers. They were
fighting for a principle of nationality
to which Italy is indebted for her ex-
istence. They were fighting for prin-
ciples of law and justice of which Italy
has been an exponent since the time
of the Romans
Furthermore Italy could no longer
delay solution of the question of the
Italian provinces that were still sub
ject to persecution by Austria. 1t was
imperative that Italy should contest
the frontier imposed by Austria after
the war of 1866 which gave her north
ern neighbors possession of all the
gates and passes leading into Italy. 1t
was imperative also that Italy should
gain supremacy in the Adriatic, with
out which she could never be said to
enjoy liberty and peace in full secur-
| ity.
Into War, Aug. "a, 1915.
Although unprepared for war, we
fortunately possessed in General Ca
dorna a powerful organizer and a eau
tious strategist. Taking the Italian
army on its modest peace footing as
backbone. he transformed it
through miracles of energy and mill
tary science. into powerful. efficient
brilliant modern army, which on May
"a, 1915, the day after war was de-
clared on Austria. suddenly threw it.
self across the whole frontier into the
| enemy's territory.
I'm doing this General Cadorna wor
two principal advantages; first, HI
gained the initiative of action; second
ly, he made Austria the scene of tn,
warfare. Throughout the campaign
Cadorna aimed to render his allies tn,
greatest possible services.
Italy began her operations lust a
the time when the Russians wer'
obliged to retreat. The strong arm,
which Cardona threw across tn
northern border menacing Austri
may have saved that Russian retrea
from a complete disaster. Similarly
when the Germans attacked Vcrdun
Cadorna started a strong offsnsiv
along the Isonzo river, which prevent
ed Austria from sending to the aid o
the German crown prince large mum
bers of troops and artillery which ha,
been prepared for that purpose.
Detracted Austria's Doom.
Equal advantages have recent
been obtained by Austria's Temporal
invasion of small section of the Ital
ian Trentino front in the Asiago dis
trict. If Austria had not centered al
her forces in this enterprise 1t woul,
have been much more difficult 20
Russia to launch the marvellous of
fensive which she is now conducting
Profiting by the situation. General Ca
dorna attacked the Austrians So ener
getically that their removal from TIL
Alps to the Carpathians to fight tn
Russians has been out of the ques
ton.
I'm Albania General Cadorna like
wise aided our allies. 1t being ma
terially impossible to save Serbia ant
Montenegro, he transferred the AL
bantam seaport of Avlona into an i'm
pregnable entrenched camp, threat
ening and checking the Austrians IL
the same manner that the allied troops
at Saloniki have held back the Bull
garians.
Above all others in this war stand
our king, modest soldier and ferven
patriot. He and King Albert are tn