Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-01
THE WAR IN ITALY


CAPITAL is timid and speculative ac-
counts rush to cover at the first sign
Of storm. The greatest of the Rothschilds
founded his fortune on the nervousness
OF London financiers, for there seemed
to be no bottom to the stock exchange or
that time. in the period when the inVin'
chile Napoleon was about once more to
meet the Allies in Belgium 1t was
Rothschild who personally watched the
conflict at Waterloo, rushed back TO Lon
don ahead of the news, bought and
bought and bought, emerging from the
campaign with huge profits. Time ana
again the markets trembled during the
Civil War. But those men who believed
IN the power of America, who did not
doubt the ultimate victory Of this nation,
lived to cash in. No man can lose who
Is a bull on America"
The retreat to the Tagliamento, the loss
of the offensive to the Italians. the pour
ing down of the Kaiser's hordes into the
plains Of Italy, are disconcerting episodes
But the Juggernauts of the Hun were
not stopped dead at the Marne to be
victorious in Holy Italy. France with her
bare hands did not hold back those per-
fectly equipped armies of Won Kluck to
have Cadorna and his veteran troops, as.
sisted by French and British gunners
routed and disintegrated. There is
divinity that shapes mems ends, and 1t
does not shape them to the mold of a
German helmet.
Not once since the first days of war
has a German army met an enemy with
anything like equal training and equip
ment and beaten it. 1t may be that Ca
dorna is. faced just now with the best
troops the Kaiser can bring into the field
1t may be that the German assault has
been too formidable for any power to
stop but between the Kaiser and Italy
proper are many rivers and country IN
which trenches can be dug, II they have
not been dug already. Who owns the
seas owns Italy, and the seas are the
Allies. No irretrievable disaster is pos
sIble on this front, we believe. The real
menace of the drive is political one, and
here again Germany may have blundered.
Instead Of despairing Italy there may
be determined Italy,
1t was only a question of time before
the tragic seriousness of the war would
be driven into the intelligence of the
American people The German initial
victories on the Italian front have turned
the trick. The more difficult the task
before us the more complete our prepara-
ton. The graver the danger of German
success the more absolute the dedication
Of our entire resources TO the fight. For
every Italian captured there are ten men
20 move into the American army. For
every ounce of German gold there are ten
OF American metal. But a small part OF
our enormous power is now being brought
into play. Everywhere the pulse OF
preparation is quickened by the recent
news. Within a few months the actual
results Of our shipbuilding program will
be apparent. We are able even now &c
divert supplies to Italy. So too, is 1t pos
slble for France and England to sent
troops. The Germans would have III
think that their campaign in Italy is al
evidence Of their triumph and a summons
to peace. 1t is in fact only an evidenc'
of the absolute necessity of beating then
back ana confirms civilization in its con
victson that there can be no peace will
iunkers.
Let no man underestimate the impor
tance OF this latest challenge to civiliza
tlon. The Hun is still untamed. still
s.riklng for decision by the mailed FIST
Although his propasanda is for peace. Hi
Inne changes as fortune seems to change
every mile that he advances simpl
shows how mighty must be America
.noft. Let US with renewed courage an
DISCRIMINATION go after him. He win b
b,hisn down. but it win require our fu
1Ifsntsh to do H.
rHrY STEAL WHO WASTE