Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-30
TELLS OF DEEDS
OF ITALY IN WAR
Officials of Nation, in Statement,
Review Accomplishments
of Year.
GENERAL CADORNA is LAUDED
Said to Have Transformed Army
Into a Powerful, Efficient
Organization.

ROME. July 2o.-Complying with a
request Of the Associated Press, tho
Italian authorities have prepared
statement reviewing the past year OF
war from the Italian viewpoint. AL
though the anniversaries that are
marked by the early days Of August
close the second year of the war for
Germany. Austria Hungary. Russia.
France and Great Britain. Italy has
only little more than passed the first
anniversary OF her participation in the
conflict. which began May 23 1915. But
In the view OF the italian authorities,
Italy's alignment with the entente
powers has been no small factor In
checking the successes OF the central
powers.
In the statement officially prepared
for the Associated Press. great praise
Is bestowed on General Cadorna, the
Italian chief of staff. as "a powerful
organizer and cautious strategist," who
is declared to have conducted his cam
paiEn against Austria with a view to
rendering the greatest possible aid to
the entente allies. II is asserted that
the early reverses OF the Russians
might gave run into complete disaster
m. Russian retreat entered the conflict
and forced Austria to employ Il vast
number OF her troops on the southern
boundaries. Further, the offensives
which the Italians have launched from
tine TO time rendered II impossible for
Austria TO carry out her purpose OF
sending troops and artillery either 10
the aid OF the German Crown Prince for
the attack on Verdun or 70 fight the
Russians
AS given out. the Italian statement
reads follows
The war which Italy is fighting
With her allies is imperfectly under
stood abroad in It's ideals we'll in
y It's technical development, thus need
!ny explanations even after a year OF
lialv's participation IN the conflict.
When the European war began italy
held back for ten months. respecting
the alliance which for a thi:d OF
century had bound her TO the central
empires. But longer than this she
could not disregard the call Of the en-
tente powers. They were lighting for
a principle of nationality TO which
Italy Is indebted for her existence
They were lighting for principles Of
law ana 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 10 persecution by Austria. II was
imperative that Italy should contest
the frontier imposed by Austria after
the war Of 1866. which gave her north
ern nciGhhors possession OF all the
gates and passes leading into italy. 1t
i,-o al haf al
gain supremacy in the Adriatic. with
ort which she could never be said to
enjoy l;her,y and peace in full security.
CADultNA CALLED
POWERFUL. ORGANIZER
Although unprepared for war, we
fortunately possessed in General Ca
lorna a powerful organizer and
cautious strategist Taking the Italian
army or its modes: peace footing as
backbone. he.transformed It. through
miracles of energy and military sell
ence in,c n powerful. efficient. bril-
liant modern army, whca on May "a.
1918, the day after war was declared
on Austria. suddenly threw itself
across the whole frontier intb the
enemy's territory.
In doing this General Cadorna won
two principal advantages: first, he
gained the initiative Of action; second.
he made Austria the scene of the war
fare Throughout the campaign Ca
dorna aimed to render his allies the
greatest possible services.
Italy began her operations just at
the time when the Russians were
obliged to retreat. The strong army
which Cadorna threw across the north
| ern border menacing Austria may have
saved that Russian retreat from COM
plete disaster Similarly, when the
Germans attacked Verdun. Cadorna
started strong offensive along the
Ibonbo River. which prevented Austria
from sending to the aid OF the German
Crown Prince large numbers OF troops
| and artillery which had been prepared
for that purpose.
Equal advantages have recently been
obtained by Austria's temporary in
! vasion OF small section of the Italian
Trentino front in the Asiago district.
4 II Austria had not conferred all her
4 forces in this enterprise, II would have
4 been much more difficult for Russia to
| launch the marvellous offensive which
\ she is now conducting. Profiting by
/ the situation, General Cadorna at
| tackled the Austrians SO energetically
\ that their removal from the Alps to the
Carpa thians to fight the Russians has
been out Of the question.
I'm Albania General Cadorna like
wise aided our allies. 1t being mate
rally impossible to save Serbia and
Montenegro, he transformed the AL
bantam seaport Of Avlona into an i'm
pregnable intrenched camp. threatening
and checking the Austrians in the same
i manner that the allied troops at Sa-
loniki have held back the Bulgarians.
above all others In this war stands
our King. modest soldier and fervent
uatriot. He and King Albert are the
| only sovereigns in this war who have
| never abandoned their places at the
|! front.
"The difficulties of the war which
| italy is wag!ng may be understood only
! by visiting our battle fronts. They ar"
stretched along the highest altitutS.