Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-26
FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT
PART OF ITALIAN ARMY
Organized for Purpose Of Protecting
and Preserving Art Treasures
In Fighting Areas.
NOTED CRITIC IN CHARGE
Fully Informed Regarding New Ad.
vances by Fighting Forces and
Frequently Acts Under Fire-New
Feature in Modern Warfare.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ITALIAN
ARMY. June ga department of fine
arts is one Of the features of the Ital-
ian army. 1t Is attached to tho general
staff, and 1t has proved to be such
highly important feature in modern
warfare that admiration Of 1t was
expressed by General Joffre and tho
lato Lord Kitchener during visits TO
Italy.
This ar, department. was organized
by General Cadorna. commander-in-
chief Of the Italian armies. primarily
for the purpose OF protecting and pre-
serving the art treasurcrs in the fight
ing areas. not only In Italian territory,
but in places taken from the .austrians.
tgo ojctti. an art critic of information
al reputation, who has long been of
ficially identified with Italian art and
architecture. was appointed the head
or the department Just year ago,
since which time many million dollars
worth OF art treasures have been taken
in charge
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 under
churches where the treasurers we've
hidden for safe-keeping In the early
| days of the war. But in many in
( stances the Austrians have taken every
thing away with them. For instance
they removed $500 objects from the
archaeological museum at Auuileja on
the night Of April 2s. 1915. according
70 Lieutenant Ojetti. at the very time
, Austria was Offering this city to Italy
through diplomatic channels.
according to Lieutenant Ojetti II
was the policy OF Austria before the
war to hide from the Italian popula-
ton all the Roman remains sueges-
tive OF the Italian origin Of the country
in which is now known as "unredeem
ed 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 ex-
istence Of many of which has hitherto
been unknown
MoNEMENTs IN VENICE
CAREFULLY PROTECTED
The work of the art department In
Venice has given that city the aspect
OF a much bandaged football pIarer.
All of It's monuments have been care
fully protected against the stray shells
or Austrian aeroplanes. II =; estimated
that no less than 100000 sacks full
OF sand have been placed around the
hhest buildings and -monuments BY
actual count 20, coo such bags protect
the basilica of st. Marks. In addition
so extensively have wooden supports
been put about certain buildings. that
( many of them. such as the Ducal Pal
ace. seem TO have been rebuilt Be-
cause OF the peculiar construction OF
the Ducal Palace il was feared thar
single shell striking a given build
ing might result in the collapse of the
entire structure. and the loss to the
world Of priceless example of archi-
lecture. Bags of sand could not be
used because their weight might cause
the buildings TO fall or sink II was
necessary to erect a full set OF brick
or wooden arches TO catch the real
ones. should they be moved by the
shock OF a she'll.
Lieutenant ojetti, aided by the half
sailor masons OF Venice. labored for
weeks, until now almost every monu
ment famous for its artistic value has
been covered in some manner OF
course, ii has been impossible to cover
the Campanile. and such towerlike
structures, but the interior ceilings and
paintings were removed wherever pos
IRENE care used to protect the master
pieces was seen at the Scuola iii San
Rocco. from the walls of which were
removed all the famous oils by Tipto
retto.
In an interview with the correspon.