Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-17
SAYS THE|TAL|ANS
| WILL NEVER GIVE UP
Vittorio FaIorsi Declares Army
Has Battle Line From
Sea to Clouds.


fight: we are not cutters" This was
the earnest pledge given by Vittorto
Falorsi Of the italian embassy, as the
preface to his address before the mem
bers of the National Geographic So
ciety in the auditorium OF the New
Masonic Temple yesterday afternoon.
For two and a half years the italian
armies have been fighting valiantly on
a battle line extending from the sea to
the clouds, and II we are retreating
now 1t is not for lack Of courage. or
endurance. or morale. but for lack of
munitions with which to combat the
well supplied enemy"
Mr.. Falorsrs description Of the hard
ships which the Italians have had to
face in their warfare among the per-
petual SHOWS Of the high Alps was IL
Illustrated with the most remarkable
series of motion pictures which have
been brought to America from any Of
the fighting fronts Of Europe. A score
of times the speaker was interrupted
by outbursts of applause as some par
ticularly hazardous feat was shown
upon the screen.
Scenes Most Amazing.
Among the most amazing scenes re-
vealed by these films which were made
under the supervision of the Italian
government, were those showing hun
dreds of men laboriously Juggling at
ropes attached to giant sledges upon
which were loaded great guns in sec
lions. These heavy field pieces were
being hauled to mountain peaks in
some cases $4,000 feet above sea level.
The men slipped and fioundered through
snow drifts of unmeasured depths. and
frequently they sank to their waists as
they dragged at the dead weight.
A feature of the films which aroused
the keenest interest was the scene
showing the Alpine warriors advancing
to an attack on skis. With their guns
dashed across their backs. and with
both hands handling barbed stats, the
men plodded laboriously up the noun
tainside. then, upon reaching the sum-
nit. they glided swiftly toward the enc
my trenches, fell suddenly on their
faces and opened fire upon the Huns.
In most instances while fighting In the
snow the uniform worn by the italians
is of white. even the helmet being COW
visibility of the men as they advance
over wide stretches OF snowf1elds and
glaciers.
Climb Perilous Peaks.
In climbing to peri1ous peaks for OBJ
servation purposes and in order to in
stall machine guns with which to rake
the opposing trenches. the Italians are
| frequently compelled to scramble over
| the rocks and up almost perpendicular
cliffs with the agility of mountain
sheep.
| A spectacle which attracted consider
able attention was that which showed
| the Observation-Disclosures carrying the
wounded to places of safety. In some
cases it required six or eight men to
| bear one wounded man, so deep was the
snow and SO perilous the journey.
! Scenes showing Gen. Cadorna review
| ing thousands of young soldiers who
| had not yet gone into action were gen.
erously applauded.
| First Address of Fall Season.
| This was the first address of the fall
season in the National Geographic So
ciety's 1917-191S course Of lectures, and
| in introducing Mr.. Falorsi to the two
capacity audiences. composed of Wash
ington members of the society, Gilbert
Grosvenor. the director and editor. paid
and perseverance which evoked enthu-
siastic applause.
| America knows" he declared, that
the nation which in an earlier age pro-
duced Marcus Aurelius, Dante, Column
bus, Cabot. Leonardo da Vinci and Cali
| leo, and which in our own day has CIV
| en- us men like Marconi. Caproni, Gal
vani Volta and Verdi, cannot fail when
| her soldiers are supplied with the nee
essary munitions by her allies. Italy's
distress today is due not to lack of
| stamina on the part of her gallant
armies, but to lack of coal and guns"