Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-01-02

lJU!I ~ y I'LL J \
THE GREAT ]! CONFLICT {! Ill! G
Rome, Dec. 10.-Letter to the
Freeman-Tribune from John HI.
Hearley. United Press Correspond
ent: Last of the allies to enter the
war, Italy haas. learned the lesson Of
military, naval, political, economic
and social unity for successful pro-
secution 81 that war more quickly
than her fellow nations in the En-
tente. The year 1915 was the year
in which she showed how well she
had learned those lessons.
Italy joined the Allies in May,
1915. Her army and navy. had 4 a
theoretical. training Tor modern war.
Bit for months after she threw her.
lot with the Allies Italy had to SUI
fer the hard schooling OF the pres
ent-day battle-ground before she was
actually prepared.
Until January !, 1916, we
were like schoolboys, studying
strange iessons--but learning them
weir was the way q prominent gen
|eral expressed II. s.But we are eight
ing now, sfighting like scientific de
mons and winning, slowly but sure
fy.'
Politically the Italian govern
ment Is more firmly welded to the
|aTied union than ever before. Ger
many's propaganda, which continu-
ANY seeks to GOV ~diRerences: among
the allies. has failed here.
Alleged German agents, who try
to turn Italy against England par
tieularly;; ind no response. Apparent
by the lid has also. been effectively
|dlamped on Giolitti and his follow
|ers. The old premier's return to
power during the war is improbable.
The Safandra ministry fell In early
Spring. In It's stead arose the Bossel-
hi cabinet, said to be more acceptable
Ito France and England. The immed-
late and most radical result OF the
Ichange was 1taly's declaration Of
war against Germany. The des-
patch OF Italian troops to Salonika
and France as we'll as a more inti-
mate ministerial contact with the
people followed.
In the last twelve months three
great movements stand out from IT
aly's Nland fighting. They include
her counter-offensive against the
lAustrians in the Trentino, her
|Isonzo offensive and her Carso drive.
superior in men and cannon, the en-
envy unexpectedly poured through
the valleys Of the Adige and Bfsnta
last Spring. They were stopped ON
lly within, sight otte historic s,veneto
land slowly pushed along tie road
they came. They still hold ! rocky
square Of 100 miles along the Tren-
Itino border. their only foothold on
italian soil.
In midsummer the Italians con-.
the resources for an Ison-
10 offensive. It eliminated In Gori-
tzia.s fall during the nrst days Of
August. m late September prepara-
ltions for q new drive n the Tower
|Carso were completed. It began in
Iearly october and has already
brought the nerce-ighting Italians
within several miles of Triest.
Winter, however, is apparently
nov conspiring with the AustriAns
against the immediate capture Of the
"unredeemed city"
. Almost 100000 soldiers played
|~active parts in these three theatres
OF war. The Austrians, It 10 estilnat-
ed lost almost q million IN dead.
wounded and prisoners. The Italian
losses, though admittedly heavy are
considerably less. Moreover. italy
today holds about $500 square miles
OF Austrian territory, embracing
prosperous towns and fertile valleys.
Meanwhile, over the sky-scrsping
peaks Of Carnia and OF the Doionites
the Italian arms we're afso slowly
advancing. strategic positions like
the mountainous Col al Lana md
the cristallo fell to King victos's
men through mining ana other en-
|gineering operations. In the process
SEES Of these captures entire enemy
regiments were often jeltied. Be-
sides, Cadorna's troops have occu-
pied A~rgirocastro and Definno in
|Epirus. Both are on the road to
Janina. which "a one of the princi-