The Washington times., 1917-07-11
STRONG
DESPITE RUMORS,
ARTIST DECLARES

ROME, July 11.-Aristids ssrtorio,
the famous painter of the Roman
campagna, has just returned from
the time being at least. OF reports
concerning the political disintegration
Of Austria. a probable revolution due
to the scarcity of foods. a separatist
movement and the possibility Of de-
feating Austria in any other way save
on the field of battle.
sartorio. at the outbzeak of the
war. was among the first to enlist for
active service. He was wounded and
made prisoner early In June. 1915.
while on a reeonnoitring expedi-
tion. He has now arrived here with q
large number Of invaded prisoners
after spending two years at the
Mauthausen Concentration Camp.
The painter said he must dispeI the
dangerous belief prevailing in Italy
that Austria Is exhausted or nearly
30.
The truth is quite otherwise"
Sartorio said. I'm order to win we
must summon all our energies and
make a supreme effort against q foe
neither tired nor weakened"
Speaking OF what he had seen while
crossing German and Austrian terri
tory. the painter said:
Rich Crop Of Cereals.
in Bavaria we have seen signs
which tell different story from what
You read in the entente press. From
the train we had for a whole day the
view OF beautifully titled lancs which
promise an unusually rich crop of
cereals and fodder. Besides, in every
station We beheld vast quantities Of
war material, especially ammunition,
and well equipped. prosperous look
ing soldiers.
The same can be said Of Austria.
about which in Italy you seem to
have incorrect reports. From my per-
sonal experience can say that In
two years have never had the I'm
preston of being in a country on
the eve OF q revolution. Although II
suffers a great deal. the population,
thanks to Its moral discipline, sup
ports with admirabls resignation all
kinds Of privations. While IL Is true
that hunger and prIvations have
caused riots In Moravia, Bohemia and
other provinces, yet these outbreaks
of popular discomfort you must con-
slider as nothing but local episodes,
quickly repressed- II living condl-
lions in Austria are not attractive,
they are not Desperate"
Clear View Of Square.
Signor Sartorio cited his personal
experience at Linz. to which place he
was removed last year, tried and SEN
fenced to several months in jail for
From the window
OF his cell he had q clear view OF q
large square where the bread and
milk tickets were distributed TO the
population twice q week, and which
was also used as drilling ground for
raw recruits. The crowd was always
orderly and patient, and the recruits
were young. hiEh-strung boys be-
tween seventeen and eighteen years
OF age. The bread that was served
to him was white and wholesome
Since the Invasion OF Rumania the
bread situation has greatly improved,
and today the troops at the front re-
ceive 4 better quality OF bread than
at any time since the beginning "
the Austro-Ital:an war.
Speaking Of tie reported Germsn-
Austrian r:yAlries. Signoi Sartur!o
said. while 1! Is true she German eIs
ment has permanently taken the d.
rectioa OF Aue;riaL military Affairs,
there seems TO s1iAt the greatest
diversity II oSirion among Austrian
officers IN judging their German
brothers. In fact, tie officers who
have had occasion to fight side by
side with the Germans on any front
speak wl.h the greatest respect OF
the German army and unbounded Ad-