Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-11-07

ton and starvation are common "A ono
passed over the roads over which the
italian troops are trying to pass the,
thousands OF Austrian prisoners who
were cut on by italians southwest
is crowded with. men .an On 3
hand there are evidences OF the coi-
lapse Of one of Europe's mightiest
armies.
The horrors OF Napoleon,ss retreat
from Russia, 1t Is sAid, by military
observers, were trif1ling compared
with the sufferings Of the Austrian
troops in this region. Great masses of
men wait for long hours to move
halt anew IA road Uttered with-Ahe
~carcasses Of horses ana with cannon,
pieces of shields; pistols, rifles, brok-
en- down. automobile trucks and ma,
chine guns.
There is no swearing among these
men. There are even moments OF pro-
found quiet broken by shatches 81
songs. Italian soldiers seem positively
sorry that the ehd Of The. war is app
preaching. They say: q.
Whats a few months more. now
that we are sure. Of victory, y
Many FA%ustrians are dying from
sheer fatigue and starvation, and not
wounds. The Italians are doinx an
they can to hurry up food suppNes..
This is difficult and in the meantime
dead horses are eaten, the flesh being
cooked by the roadside by fires kin
died by. the soldiers.
Large bodies OF Austrians are help
less. The correspondent passed be-
Rovereto and Trent, a distance of 16
miles, an intending column OF men
marching. one knew whittier.
They asked orders from an officer
who was with the correspondent.
Armistice they said:
w want food. Food is the ONLY
thing we are interested in. We are in
different to war and peace and death
everything but food"
Strange tales are told of the ex-
plots Of Italian prisoners returning
home. Above Trent a group of Italian
prisoners broke out and ordered the
chauffeur of a truck to drive them to
the italian lines and the man obeyed.
Another italian prisoner, mounted on
horseback at the head of a regiment
of Austriahs announced smiling:
These are my captives."
1t is estimated that nine Austrian
divisions We're taken with their STATS.
Thirty-nine divisions were partly dis
organized n fifteen, although in bad
condition, are %retreating from the ad-
vancing Italians. These troops, while
equipped for their retreat, are with
out orders and go travelling here and
there like droves Of Sheep. 1t is a. COM
mon thing to SCI an entire brigade
without officers, the latter having been
ordered to go separately to the con-
centration camps. I,~ 80.
The correspondent saw at Pergire
the general of the sixth Austrian di-
vision motoring along in his own car.
He said he was going home, having
been given special permission. In the
meantime his troops have been .aban-
doned.
The italian officer with the CORE
spondent told what he considered a
his motor car in a little garden over
night and the two Austrians nearby
were ordered to watch it.. They re-
sponded in the officers own Venetian
dialect. The Italian embraced them
crying: Ell @
you are from my country. Italians
do no make imperialistic war"
mountains by way of the Asiago pla-
teau, the correspondent saw further
evidence of the devastation of war.
There is not a house left standing in
the town of Asiago. There is also
much suffering among the people
throughout the mountains, who are
%foodless and have been robbed Of
their possessions. By a miracle the
rigorous Alpine winter has not .yetfset
in and these people say: ~ % 4
These ravages are necessary. They
remain glorious memories of our sal
vation." 81.
The problem Of feeding sthe multi
tude of prisoners is grave. but the
Italians are making a superhuman eff
fort. They also are treating the pris-
oners as well as possible. 1t is COM
mon to see hardy Italian troops gen
erously toss their own bread .rations to
the. Austrians. saying laughing1y:
Tomorrow is another day. We will