The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1918-10-31
lTALY ASK MORE
HELP FROM AMERICA
Not Quite Sure Yankee States
men Fully Understand Prob
LENS Of That County.

4 Rome. Mario Borea, writing IN
the secoio Of Milan. remarks how
seriously Italy looks at the Ameri-
lean political and military problem.
q, We greet the first conringents on
our front with JOY, !" he wrlres, but the
question is whether the starry republic
will be merely represented in Italy or
whether, its army will be of such pros
portions as to give effective assistance
to our fighters.
The situation on our front certainly
Is not stationary. "A new Austrian Of
fensive this year is not probable: 1t is
possible. That would be consonant
with the tactics followed by the enemy,
who might have projected a new COM
bred Austro- German offensive, as in
flas October.
French will succeed In keeping all the
German strength on the western front
engaged. If their pressure should di-
minish Germany probably would send
q number OF divisions to attempt with
the Austrians to wipe out the record OF
defeat suffered in France by victory
over us. That would improve their
morale and help them close the score
of 1913 less disastrously.
We hope this simple hypothesis will
be realized. In any case it is necessary
to examine the military situation for
next year. II the allies, as Is probable.
should continue to maintain the jnitia-
tive, we also should bestir ourselves.
The war should not end with the liberia
ton OF our invaded territories. In any
case every one can see how we should
be assisted and be able to count on the
cooperation of a material number of
allied troops
For obvious reasons we cannot count
on the English or the French, who are
too busy elsewhere; and for that reason
we turn 10th Americans, who have.
large forces at their disposal.
The Americans have 100000 men
under arms and with the new iaw
which extends the age 1imits for the
draft, 100000 OF men will, soon be at
the disposal OF the government in
Washington.
There is delicate point involved.
do not know what attitude the gov
eminent of Italy and the army COM
manders have taken In regard to such
cooperation Of an adequate number
OF Americans on our front. II the gov
erEmeIts and commanders are favor
able. 1t remains to be seen what Is
thought OF it on the other side Of the
Atlantic.
we know the theory of the Amer
lean general staff. which is the same
rs that OF the French general staff,
won on the western front. but this is
not considered the greatest difficulty
by American public opinion. A Wash-
ington cable to the London Times
says VS.;
IN which the opinion OF the govern
ment in the long run is that of the
people.
This was proved to us last year
when war war declared. The Amer
lean general staff opposed sending
troops to France in less than 8 year.
structed. However, the newspapers
:repudiated. the theory and began
vigorous campaign, which SO influ-
eneed American opinion that in the
space of two months the first Ameri-
can contingent, under the command Of
General Pershing, landed on the soN of
France.
"The difficulty II there be s:ny,
would rest with the American peo-
pie. What do the Americans think
about sending a large army to Italy?
Probably they have not formed an OK
act opinion. We have few enthus-
iastic friends in the United States
who understand the Justice of our
cause, and we have detractors who
arouse suspicion about our war aims,
but the great mass of the American
people is i'll informed, or not informed
at all, and is Indifferent to what con-
Germs Italy.
THAT does not surprise. The fault
is ours. The government of Italy
should declare itself at one with Pres
ld e wilson about the aims of the
war. 1t should not leave the slightest
doubt about our policy concerning the
nationalities oppressed by Austria.
The American soldiers who come to
our front should be made to know
for what cause they are to fight and
die. In that way we can have Amer
lean public opinion with us, and what
we dcsire-the effective assistance of
their forces on our front"