New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-29
State Department Is Told
by Mission That Kingdom
Has Ample Foodstufs
Industries Increasing
American Tonnage May Be
Obtained to Relieve the
Urgent Necessity
fFrcm Tho Tribune Bureau

Washington, May 2s.--Italy's war
needs were the subject Of the first con-
ference Of officials with members of the
visiting Italian war mission o-day. The
members of the mission attending were
Enrico Arlotts, Minister Of Transporta-
ton; Augusta Ciuffelli, transportation
expert; Francisco Saverio Nitti. econ
omist; Marquis Borsarelli, Under Sec
rotary of Foreign Affairs, and Senator
Marconi, all assembled under the pres
idency Of the Prince of Udine. The
names of the American representatives.
in attendance are withheld in Difference
to State Department wish.
The first problem taken up was that
concerning tonnage. The United States
has all the materials Italy needs, it was
said, but it is necessary to arrange the
means of transportation in a way that
will not interfere with the delivery of
supplies to England, France and Russia.
Italy is not in urgent need of food
stuffs, but needs coal, iron, lumber and
agricultural machinery, besides engines
and railroad equipment, the members OF
the mission stated. 1t was further said
that if Italy can obtain coal in the
United States her problem of making
her own brick for use in the construc-
ton of mountain dug-outs and trenches
will have been solved. The reason she
has heretofore had to import brick
from the United States was because she
could not afford to utilize her meagre
coal supplies in their manufacture.
The American representatives were
informed that the industrial develop
ment of Italy had increased during the
war. It was declared to be an errone-
Gus idea that Italy had suffered indus
trially. Italy, it was said, is making
at the present time her own heavy
guns. The house of Ansaldo, at Genoa
was said to be producing what has
proved to be as good gun as the
famous "75" Of the French and the
"304o Of the Austrians.
The problem of transporting coal to
Italy was declared to be the most i'm
portant feature Of the discussion be-
tween the Italian mission and the ex-
perts representing the United States.
Italy, it was said, needs coal to assure
the continued manufacture Of guns and
ammunition and the maintenance Of her
industries.
After careful consideration of the in
formation laid before them by the mis-.
sion, the American representatives will
present reports to the heads of their re-
spective departments, who will commu'
nicate to the mission the assurances
concerning the tonnage that will be
available for transporting the neces-
sary coal and other articles to Italy
1t is the aim Of both Italy and the
United States, it was said, that all nee
essary help shall be rendered by thi,
government before the summer is over
It was said that an ample quantity
of coal and some other supplies
have been assembled at certain ports
and are all ready to be shipped when
ever vessels for transporting them can
be obtained. 1t was thought to be a
question Of selection with the present
limited amount Of tonnage available
and it was indicated that some vessels
now delivering American supplies to