The Washington herald., 1917-07-12
AUSTRIA UNWEAKENED
ITALIANS ARE WARNED
Returned Prisoner Says Enemy's
Condition Is Good.
Rr CAMILLA CIANFARRA.
BY CAMILLO CIA

International News Service stan Correspondent.
Rome, July 12-Aristide Sartorio,
the famous painter Of the Roman
Campagna, has just returned from
captivity in Austria and disposes,
for the time being at least, of re-
ports concerning the political disin-
tegration OF Austria, a probable revo-
luton due to the scarcity of foods. a
separatist movement and the possi-
bility of defeating Austria in any
other way save on the field of battle.
Sartorio, at the outbreak 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 accommodating expedi-
tion. He has now arrived here with
large number OF invalided prison.
ers after spending two years at the
Mauthausen concentration camp.
The painter said he must dispcl the
dangerous belief prevailing in Italy
that Austria is exhausted or nearly
so.
The truth is quite otherwise"
Sartorio said. I'm order to win We
must summon all our energies and
make a supreme effort against a foe
neither tired nor weakened"
Speaking of what he had seen
while crossing German and Austrian
territory. the painter said;
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
lands which promise an unusually
rich crop Of cereals and fodder. Be
sides, in every station We beheld vast
quantities of war material. especially
ammunition, and well-equipped, pros
porous looking soldiers.
The same can be said of Austria
about which in Italy you seem to have
incorrect reports. From my personal
experience / can say that in two
years I never had the impression OF
being in country on the eve OF a
revolution. Although il suffers a great
deal. the population, thanks to its
moral discipline. supports with ad-
mirable resignation all kinds Of priva-
tions. While it is true that hunger
and privations have caused riots in
Moravia. Bohemia and other prov
inces. yet these outbreaks of popular
discomfort you must consider as moth
ing but local episodes. quickly re-
pressed. If living conditions in Aus
tria are not attractive, they are not
desperate"
SiEnor Sartorio cited his personal
experience at Linz. to which place he
WIS removed last year. tried and SEN
fenced to several months in Jail for
characterization. From the window of
his cell he had clear view OF a
large square where the bread and milk
tickets were distributed TO the popu-
lation twice a week. and which was
also used as drilling ground for raw
recruits. The crowd was always or
derby and patient, and the recruits
were young, high-strung boys be-
tween Il and Is years of age. The
bread that was served to him was
white and wholesome. Since the in
vasion of Rumania the bread situa-
ton has greatly improved, and today
the troops at the front receive a bet
ter quality of bread than at any time
since the beginning Of the Austro-
Italian war
Speaking Of the reported German
Austrian rivalries. Signor Sartorio
said. while it is true the German ele-
mcnt has permanently taken the di-
reCtion of Austrian military affairs,
there seems to exist the greatest di-
versity OF opinion among Austrian Of
ficers in Judging their German broth
ers. In fact. the officers who have
had occasion to fight side by side with
the Germans on any front speak with
the greatest respect of the German
army and unbOunded admiration of
the German general staff.