Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-22
Signor Nitti Voices
Gratitude of Mission
for Splendid Tribute
offered During Visit
to City
Former Cabinet Officer Dis
cusses Importance of En-
trance of America Into
War for Liberty and JUS
tice
By ADALBERTO CAPoRALE

tic demonstrations in every city we have
visited in our tour. but the warm, grand
reception this city Of Philadelphia has
accorded us has surpassed everything we
could expect We have been aEreeaby
surprised. and I should ask the EVENING
LEDGER TO convey 10 the population OF
Philadelphia our undying gratitude our
heartfelt admiration Tor this arousing in
terest In the cause of liberty and justice
for which Italy has been fighting her tre-
mendous war and America prepares 10 shed
her blood"
This message was delivered TO me by
Signor Francesca Saverio Ntt, member Of
the Italian mission and one Of the most
influential Statesmen Of the allied Kingdom,
In his room at the RitZ-Carlton Hotel yes
terday a little before the mission started
for the visit 10 Independence Hall and
the final tour Of The city
Sienor Nitti has been several times a
member Of the Italian Cabinet and as MIN
ister Of Agriculture, Industry and Com
merce has done much toward the develop
ment Of Southern italy, Of which he Is a
typical representative. For he has sue
cessfully combined his vast knowledge Of
economical problems with the keen sense
Of the practical man Of action. He con
sented 10 give a few minutes-and he has
very little time. even yesterday he had 70
remain i'm his room TO work instead OF
going with the other memberS-tOr an IN
terview for the EVENING LEDGER.
After paying a high tribute of adn'ira-
ton 10 America, which he visits for the
first time, though he laid stress on the fact
that he reads more English than Italian
books and TO the President, he said that
the Intervention Of the United states In
the European war created an enormously
favorable impression in Italy, more par
tcularly in southern italy.
INSPIRED BY AMERICAS ACT
you know we'll" he said that the great
majority Of the 100000 Italians living in
the United States comes from southern
Italy Each one Of these Italians has rela-
tives abroad and therefore small villages
which probably had not been aroused by
the war in Italy were taken in the whirl-
wind OF enthusiasm when II was learned
that America had also entered the war on
the side Of Italy and that she would send
an army to Europe to fight against the
same enemies to defeat which Italy was
shedding the blood Of her youths The en-
thusiasm was great all over italy TO be
sure but the United States Intervention
was more keenly greeted in southern Italy,
where America is known and loved a. per
haps nowhere else. These regions were
quick in grasping the immense moral and
material value Of the new ally
1.-THE war has already entered a new
phase with the American intervention. In
the first phase. the Entente struggled to re-
sist the sinister aggression by Germany,
which was tryips slowly to annihilate the
military power o. the Allies by firing and
starving them. But now, well, we can attack.
"The submarine problem Is of the ut
most importance now, because il is through
the U-boats that Germany makes supreme
effort to starve England, TO wear out France
to conquer Italy with food and coal fam
| inc, after she herself succeeded in acquir,
! ing the possibility OF resistance through
| privatlons and sacrifices.
ITO take the case Of Italy alone we
| import in normal times 100000 tons of
| coal and more than 2,OO0. 900 tons of iron
| ore In time of war we should have more
| than that in order to feed our war indus.
! tries besides other industrial activities, the
| railroads and the navy. We have, it is
| true. tremendous wealth Of water power,
| something which in the future will free us
| completely from buying coal. But we
won't be able to use this power for sew
| eral years to come. In the last few
| months we could nos import more than
! 700, 900 tons of coal monthly, owing to the
| scarcity Of shipping facilities, and we had
| to reduce our railroad traffic TO the mini
mum possible. in some regions barely to the
! number of trains needed for military pur-
poses. We had TO close many factories
| leaving only those necessary to the war.
| But even in these conditions It will not
| be possible to go ahead for a long time
1T is necessary. therefore, that the first
aid the United States should give 10 the
! Allies-because all of the Allied nations
suffer from the same shortage of shipping
should be in supplying new ships. England
| can do something in this line, but only
the United States can do much, can solve
| the problem and supply ships, coal and iron
ore.
ITALY's IMMENSE TASK
"As far as military operations are con-
cerned, Italy can look after herself and she
does not ask soldiers. She has 4,OO0, 600
men at the front and she is fighting almost
the whole Austrian army since the Russian
revolution brought military operations on
the Galcian front to a standstill. In order
to have an exact idea of what Italy has
done one should figure the United States
in war for two years with a fighting force
Of $4,000 900 to 15,OOO,OOO and with an
expenditure Of from 100000 900 to S4O,-
600 100000 If the proportion Of relative
ness between the population and the
wealth Of America and Italy are taken into
consideration, these figures will tell the tale
Of Italy's effort in this war.
Italy has resisted, is resisting and viii
resist TO the end, but the Allies must supply
her coal and iron and provide means of
transporting II 70 the Italian shores.
The whole problem of the war as It is
today can be squeezed into a few words
| II is necessary TO repair the losses brought
about by the U-boats.
I'VE expect from the United States the
| great effort Of which she is capable and
| we know that she will do IT, Her popula-
| ton is the result of the amalgamation OF
| the strongest and most warlike races Of
| Europe, and this viii give her a formidable
| army with which the German hosts must
| reckon. But above all, we expect from the
| United States coal and iron, / will repeat,
and an intensihcation Of her agricultural
| production that would save the Allies from
| starving. And we expect to see her give
| out at least 100000 tons Of cargo boats 10
| repair in some way the loss of shipping
| through submarine activities, a loss which
has reached 100000 tons a month"
Signor Nitti talked OF his son. Vincenzo,
| who was wounded in one Of the Carso bat.
| ties during the recent offensive by General
| Cadorna. He is only seventeen years old
| said with pride. -
Il have had no news recently I do not
| think he is wounded very seriously because
| he could be carried to the military hospital
at Udine. But do not think he is wounded
| only slightly, because he could not be sent
TO Naples. where his mother awaits him."
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