The Washington herald., 1916-07-25
German influence IN Italy.

German influence IN Italy.
Far up IN the Roccolana Valley, found
the Alpini outposts, backed by artillery,
which had been brought into wonderful
positions. They had taken eight-inch
guns where a tourist could hardly take
his knapsack In little wayside house,
the brigade headquarters, 1 was enter
tanned to lunch. I raised my glass to
Italia irredenta-might 1t soon be re-
denta. They all sprang to their feet
and the circle of dark faces flashed into
fame. They keep their souls and emo
tons, these people.
The italians are a quick, high-spirited
race. and it is very necessary that we
should consider their feelings, and that
we should show our sympathy with what
they have done. The war is made by
their splendid King. a man of whom
every one speaks with extraordinary rev.
erence and love-and by the people The
people with the deep instinct Of very
old civilization understand that the liberty
Of the world and their own national eI-
istence are really at stake.
But there are several forces which
divide the strength of the nation. There
isI the clerical, which represents the old
Guelph or German spirit, looking upon
Austria as the eldest daughter Of the
church. Then there is the old nobility.
Finally there are the commercial peo-
pie who, through the great banks and
in trade, have held close relations with
the Germans. Britain should in every
possible way, moral and material. sus-
tain the italian National party. Should
the others gain the upper hand there
change in the situation. The Italians
are a grand people, striving most efficient
ly for the common cause, with all the
dreadful disabilities which an absence
Of coal and iron entails
The attitude of the people OF Italy
behind the firing line should give one
confidence. I had heard that the Italians
to this part of Italy. She is perfectly
sure of herself.
42-Centtmeter Gun In Alps.
The commander of the sector, man
who has done splendid work, greeted mo
with: BY all means see my front But
no motor car. please. It draws fire, and
others may be hit besides you" We pro-
ceeded on foot, therefore, along q valley
which branched at the end into two
passes. In both very active fighting had
been going on. and as we came up the
guns were baying merrily. waking up
most extraordinary echoes in the hills
It was difficult to believe that It was not
thunder. There was one terrible voice
that broke out from time to time in the
mountains-like the angry voice of the
Holy Roman Empire. When it came all
other sounds died down into nothing. 1t
was-so I was told-the master gun, the
vast 42-centimeter giant, which brought
down the pride of Liege and Namur. The
Austrians have brought one or more from
Innsbruck. It does little damage, how
ever. as mountains are tough targets.
There was about 1000 years between
the adversaries. I have seen types of
some Of the Bosnian and Croatian prison.
ers. men Of poor physique and intelli-
gence. but the Italians speak with chival-
rous praise Of the bravery Of the Hun
gartans and OF the Austrian Jaeger
The Austrians use Russian prisoners
TO dig trenches under fire. The italians
do not think this Is sportsmanlike. Never
theless, IN the Austro-Italian war there
Il nothing which corresponds with the
extreme bitterness Of our western con-
dict
One cannot look at the officers and
men without seeing that their spirit
and confidence are high Even among
tns SHOWS Of the Alps they tell me that
the sieiiisns rave an excellent account
of themselves
The italians have every possible disad-
vantage. economic and political But IN
spite % n they hsve done spl.ndidIy
Three thousand square kiiorstsrs Of tha
ensfnYs country is already IN their pcs
session.