New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-01
Where the Big Drive Was Made
Italv's War With the Tedesco

and Its searching and convincing Rnaly-
sis OF the events which Immediately
led to the present war and to ltaly's
participation in IL. The citations of
official documents and original author
tiles are copious. though we could wish
that the index were something more
than a mere catalogue of names. The
entire work is duplicated in the one
volume, the first version being in Eng
lish, the second in Italian; each an
exact translation Of the other. IL is
the most complete statement of the
Italian case. and the most judiciously
and suthoritatively made, that we have
seen.
Nor have we seen more satisfac-
tory account of the manner in which
the war Is being waged by Italy than
that which is found in Mr.. Nivisn's
exceptionally informing and entertain
ing book. We say entertaining, be-
cause the writer has those unspeak-
ably precious possessions. a keen
though discreet of humor, and
more than Argus-eycd capacity for
observation. Nothing seems to have
escaped his notice or TO have been be-
yond his full appreciation. Nor does
he confine himself TO the actual bat
te-front, though Of il, of the trenches,
Of the astonishing feats of mountain
climbing, and what not, he gives us
most vital and dramatic pictures. His
intimate observation covers all Italy.
and he tells US Of the psychology OF
the NeapolitanS. and OF the condition
OF the relics of Bonaparte at Elba, as
well as of the physical achievements of
the Alp'ni. Here is part of his char
acter sketch of General Cadorns:
In appearance he is bony, but
square. His whole face is deeply
lined. and his hair is white. while
his eyes are surprisingly young for
siXtyfve, and often gleam with fun.
He smiles with frank cordiality,
sometimes little sadly, and perhaps
the smile comes 20 you from rather
far away. His voice is deep and
strong. He makes expressive eest-
ures slowly with his big hands. He
IS fine rider and a keen climber.
but not interested in sport He has
travelled little within the beaten
track-to Belgium, England, Tuns.
AlEiers. He takes no interest in poll
tics and cannot understand the use
OF politicians. He reads great deal,
old books for choice; for instance,
he reads the Bible every night be-
fore he goes 70 bed. He is a practis-
ms Catholic, likes music, loves chill
drcn. A homely NAL who inspires
intense devotion.
Mr.. Price writes in the first person.
largely singular; which denotes not
egouSm, but authenticity. He is tell
ing of things all of which he saw and
q great part of which he was. As
artist-correspo ndent Of The Illus
trated London News" ne maintained
the fine old traditions of his calling
and was with the Bcrsaglieri and the
Alpini in the most astounding Of their
performances; in scenes amid the Dol
omites, which indeed, as he observes,
surpassed all the fancies of Dante and
Dore. He was at the capture of Gorilla,
and pays this tribute TO the conduct of
the victorious Italian troops:
Tire soldiers behaved magnificent
~, as however might have been eX-
pected of the heroes they were.
There was not the slightest sign any
where Of any disposition TO "swag-
ger" or 10 show of either on the
part Of the officers or men; they
simply came in quietly and took pos
session OF Gorilla like an army Of
gentlemen. In several in
stances the shop fronts were so
wrecked that everything that was
left intact could have been easily got
at through the broken windows; i
only meant putting your hand in and
helping yourself, since there was no
one that day to stop you, and several
Of the shops had quite tempting dis
r'a,.c Of ryCpaCs 7 l1I bn9r NJ
a single case Of looting. |
tried 70 picture in my mind what
would have taken place had the Aus
TRANS succeeded in getting into
Nicenza!
Or what did actually happen when
the Prussans got into Louvain.
To educate a man properly, accord
ing TO Holmes, we must begin with his
grandparents. To understand the pres
ent status, attitude and aims Of Italy,
even her place in this war, We must
s,quaint ourselves with her history, at
least from the time of the first great
irruption of TIE Huns. Such an ac-
quaintance is amply provided for in the
four history which lies before
US; that, and something more. 1t is
an admirable historic introduction TO
Italys part in the present war, but en-
tirely apart from that IL is a most
admirable history Of Italy, political and
ecclesiastical, diplomatic and military,
social and intellectual, from the fall
Of the Roman Empire TO the present
day. Concise yet comprehensive and
never dry, judicious and catholic and
with well-proportioned perspective, and
with a good photography and tables of
the popes and civil dynasties. it ap-
proximates the ideal Of much history
in little space, and is most cordially
TO be commended both as war book"
and-still morc-as standard work of
permanent value, almost unique in its
convenience and utility.