Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-10
General Diaz Tells of War
Italy is Fighting in Snow
Claim of Austrians That
Weather Is Against Them
Is Denied by Italians.
BY The Associated Press.

BY The Associated Press.
ITALIAN ARMY HEADQUARTERS
IN ITALY, Dec. 9.--ln the course of
q rather extended conversation today
with General Armando Diaz, chief OF
staff OF the Italian lrniy, who now Is
directing the operations on the Italian
front the correspondent drew his at
tention TO the recent statemen. Of
General Won Ludendcrff of the Ger
man staff concerning Italy. The Ger
man general had SAID that one effect
OF the italian campaign was to shorten
greatly the Austro-German front.
THAT Is quite true" said General
Diaz. ''and II Is equally true that II
has shortened the Italian front to ex-
actly the same extent. othat If any
consolation is TO be drawn from the
shortening or the front it is entirely
mutual"
Concerning Triest, General Diaz de-
cIared emphatically
The question of Triest will never
be settled" And thea he reiterated
NO, just so long as rriest remains
In the hands OF Aubtria. Triest will
remain in danger. Tries. is essen
TALLY an Italian city, in an Italian
province. with an Italian population
and that will make 1t an everlasting
danger to those who hold 1t In de-
fiance of nationality which the Amer
ican president has defined as the righ:
Of every community to direct its own
political destinies."
General Won Ludendorffs assertion
that the season had increased fhe diff
ficulties OF the Anstro -Germah cam.
paign,- especially in the mountains
struck General Diaz as quite at va
rance with the facts.
'On the Contrary" he said. tie sea.
son has operated wholly to the advan-
take of the Austro- German forces
This is Particularly true In the noun
tains. Last year I'm November we had
six and sometimes eight feet of snow
where the present operations are go
ing on, whereas now, In December
there is virtually no snow, or only q
few inches, as the heavy SHOWS have
not yet set in. This exceptional con
dition Is of great advantage to tht
enemy in permitting the movement OF
his troops. supplies, ammunition, anc
especially his heavy guns, and the
bringing forward of reinforcemcnts
With normal Winter conditions pre-
vailing In the north, the enemy now
would be in the grip of impossible
SHOWS"
The general was asked IL the Rus
sian armistice were likely to brins
more Austro- German reinforcement
from the Russian front.
a great number of reinforcement!
have already been brought from thai
front" he replied I'VE have defin
itely identified divisions and brigade:
of Austrians and Germans brought
from the Russian front. But 1 doub
whether this so-called armlstice VII
permit them to withdraw many more
troops from that front.
/ They know very well that condi
tions of deep unrest still exist thru
out the interior of Russia, which may
bring on a volcanic eruption any mo-
ment.
What they are doing now" he con
tinued. lis to put in their line then
landsturm which are more servaceabf'
for guard duty than for fighting"
General Diaz paid tribute to Amer
lea as a young and vigorous natior
which had just sent another thrill
thru Italy by her presidents recon
mnendation of war against Austria.