New-York tribune., 1917-12-11
New Poison Gases
Added to Teutons'
Success in Italy
lrritant and Emetic Vapors
Used, Says c. u. Clark,
Back From Rome
Boys Held Piave Line
Propaganda Damaged Morale
Of Second and Third Ital-
ian Armies

Germany used two new varieties Of
poison gas TO aid her and Austria in
blasting their way into Italy. This
military surprise, coupled with the
ruthlessness of the Teuton advance and
the insid.ous German propaganda which
had rappcd the morale Of the Italian
army, accounts for the Kaiscr's sue.
cess.
This is tho substance Of tac story Of
ltaly's collapse, told yesterday by
Charles Epson Clark. director Of
classical studies in the American Acad-
emy az Rome, who has just returned
from the war zonc.
Austrian and German troops used
three gases in their recent drive"
said Mr.. Clark. zone of these is an
irritant gas, which penctratcs even
through gas mask. The second is an
cmctic gas bomb which nauscates any
Cne who gets a Whit Of IL; Besides
these. Of course. they used ordinary
aSphyNiatinG gas
Line Holds Despite New Aids.
"Eyen with these aids. the enemy did
not succeed in getting as far into Italy
as he believed that he would. The line
Of the Paive waS not considered per-
manent. The best that Italy hoped for
there was to delay the enemy.
'Iet the line held. and will continue
TO hold. in all probability. It's strength
= a 81 80 he col Itf
eighteen-year-old boys who fought back
The German waves. To these boys Gen
cral DisZ paid splendid tribute in
special order Of the day
Propaganda spread through the rank,
OF the second and third armies was re-
sponsiblc for the breaking OF the ltal-
ian line in Austria. Mr.. Clark said
Along the front held BY these two com
mands fraternizing became common.
81 have heard" he said. that when
the offensive opened and the time came
10 send the German shock units for
ward, the fraterniZng Austrians were
eliminated by the simple process Of
turning German machine guns upon
them and the Italians alike, and sweep
ing them away"
Fake Newspapers Used
Italy's carelessness in disregsrding
the work Of German sympathizers and
agents is responsible in large part for
her defeat according TO sir. Clark. The
chief Of the German Secret Service IN
Italy. he says. was Solomon Joel, Ger
man jew. who has had bank in Rome
for thirty years. Just before the Ger
man-Austran drive, immense numbers
Of forged Italian newspapers. chiefly
limitations OF the "Jiornale d'ltalia.' OF
Rome. and the "Corriere della Serra,'
Of Milan. were distributed among the
disaffected troops.
These fake newspapers contained ac-
counts o. great revolution IN
Palermo and otfer uprisings. and also
reported that Italy had declared peace
ard had retired from the war.
zone of the greatest problems Mr.
Clark said. "is due 20 the immense
amount Of supplies lost or destroyed
AZ the time of the retreat. These must
now be replaced. and provision must
h. made for the yasJ number OF
refugees. When the 60 lapse came
Italy was already on short rations.'
Troops Training Neglected
Germany was able 20 progress in
her nropagauda according 20 Nh
Clark. through ltaly's neglect 70 eiu-
cate the rank and lile Of her soldi-ry.
pes SAINTS. mostly, in what the war
really meant.
The peasants" he said, did not
know the issues for which they were
fighting. and the government neglect
ed 60 educate them. Many italians ir
high places were married TO AuStrians
or Germans and were known TO be op-
posed TO the war. Most OF ltaly's
trained officers had been killed and
their places had been taken by less
experienced men.
"The situation in Italy. improved
though il is. would be wonderfully
strengthened if this government were
to send troops there. The sight Of
American soldiers marching through
Italian towns would work moral Won
GerS
AT the same time, the presence OF
our troops in Italy would add immeas-
urably 70 the internal troubles of Aus
tria. There are hundreds Of thousands
in Austria who have relatives in the
United States
Italy also needs our grain and
coal. She has plenty Of vegetables and
dairy products. and there is no appar-
ent shortage OF meat. SO far "a food
and fuel 70. Spain is worse of than
either. She can get hcln from no