New-York tribune., 1918-05-25

was read by Mr.. Hughes, hoped for and
prophesied that American troops would
be sent to the Italian front. Mr..
Hughes, too, in his speech declared the
American peoplc hoped the day would
come when American soldiers would
tread the soil of Italy to bear their
greeting.
The Presidents letter follows:
The Presidents Letter
My Dear Mr. Hughes: Will you
not convey to those. assembled on
the twenty fourth of May this ex
preston of my regret that l cannot
be present in order to express in
person my feeling of admiration for
the great Italian people who are en-
gagged with us in the great struggle
now going forward for securing the
rights of free men? The friendship
of America for Italy has always been
deep and cordial. We have welcomed
to this country with a genuine well
come millions Of Italians who have
added their labor and genius to the
richness of American life, and this
new association with the Italian peo-
pie in a struggle which has given to
men everywhere the sense OF ccm-
munity of interest and comradeship
Of right more intensely than they
ever had it before, will serve to
strengthen that friendship still more
and crown the many happy recollec-
tons of the association of the two
countries in thought and feeling.
III am sure that | express the
sentiment of the whole country when
| thus express my admiration for
Italy and my hope that increasingly,
in the. days to come, we may be
enabled to prove our friendship in
every substantial way"
Hughes Praises Italian Soldiers.
Mr.. Hughes praised the bravery >ot
the Italian army and declared that the
debt of the Allies to her could not be
over estimated. Referring to the or
ganization he heads, he said:
"The ItalyAmerica Society is
formed to foster the friendship be-
tween the two peoples, to promote
better understanding Of what Italy
has achieved, to strengthen the bonds
which unite us in our common
struggle for our common security.
We wish, by voicing the sentiment of
to German propagandists. We wish
to testify to our grateful apprecia-
tion of the sacrifices and heroism Of
our brothers in arms. We hope the
day will come when American SOL
diers will tread the soil of Italy to
hear our greetings. We are looking
forward to cooperation in peace as
we'll as in war, by combination of
effort with unity of purpose for the
benefit of mankind.
France, Great Britain, Italy and
the United States, fighting dnitedly,
determinedly, and without stopping
nf At ,sot4
cure the future of civilization"
Tribute to Red Cross
Count v Macchi di Cellere, the Ital
ian Ambassador, who followed Judg
Hughes, paid high tribute to the Re
Cross for what it has done in Ital,
He said in part:
And we like to think of the as
sistancc which our own Italian Red
IN the early sixties, offered to the
! United States, then engaged in the
Civil War; courtesy which is re-
turned to us to-day with touching
generosity by the American Red
Cross on the common battlefields.
Three years ago nation that had
been waiting for its hour to strike
rose as one man from the Alps to
Sicily, from her eastern to her west
ern sea, to vindicate the rights that
were being trampled upon and to
claim her unredcemed brothers., who
were crying for help. Victory smiled
Tor three years on our army, which
was renewing the deeds of valor of
ancient Rome. Then the enemy, con-
centrating treason and violence in
the offensive on our front, brought
upon us a reverse, though not de-
feat. The army and nation rallied
soon after the blow.
The army and the nation united
to-day in a real spirit of sacrifice
take up once more the heritage of
national feeling in the solemn prom
ise never to lay down their sword
while bit of Italy remains enslaved
or until the Motherland be made
one from the Alps to the sea, in pol
itical unity as well as in unity OF
heart, Language and feeling, within
the boundaries tina. nature has as
signed to her and the sacrifice Of her
sons has consecrAted.
I'VE are giving to-day Of our heart