Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-13
FROM OTHER VIEWPOINTS
National Problems
Authoritative Wrtcrs-A Daily Editorial
HOW ITALY SAVED IT'S ART TREASURES
FERHERO,
Director of Italian Bureau

The first anniversary OF the Capor-
etto disaster recalls the boast OF the
It had on exhibition In Bcr1:a n valuable
sculpture captured by tho Teu.onic
Italy last fan. This boast afforded
great amusement to the italian people.
II was CHARACTERISTIC German BLUFF.
IT was BLUM that could not have been
safely tried among n population whose
art sense was developed to any extent.
1t Is quite possible that the s,olid and
materialistic Prussian OF Bcrlian was
deceived by the very limited and med
iocre, collection presented and 1t may
thought that they had obtained plumber
OF real value.
But as a matter OF fact. with the ex-
ception Of a small portion OF the Mu-
OF merit that fell into the hands Of the
invaders was a triptic attributed to
Titan taken from Cas.el Roganziol. n
has never been proved; work by Por-
denone and small picture OF the
school OF Beiiini taken from village
region when the drive began was full
Of priceless old art objects. Hardly a
httie mountain town even but what
NAG In It's church some sample OF an
old masters work.
1t is typical of the Italian people that.
in spite OF the horror and panic attend
Ing the invasion Of the barbarous Hun
organized efforts for the saving OF these
treasures. The story OF this work OF
salvage Is one Of tho littlc-known
Lomances OF the great disaster Of last
Cctooer. IL exhibits another side OF the
Caporetto disaster.
AS soon as it became evident that the
italian line was wavering, Arduino
Colasenti, at the request OF the director
general OF finance. was placed in charge
of this work by the Minister OF Public
RI Tel Cd
a.vided into three zoncs--that of Carnia
that of Friuli and that OF Val Camonicn
The supreme commander of the army
placed Mt Coiasentrs disposal trucks
necessary timber and men to carry on
the work. On October rs ne was order
ed TO proceed. There was no time for
elaboration. His instructions were to
keep in contact with the enemy and re-
came evident that town was to fall
He was. therefore, obliged to keep
watch OF 400 miles OF front and rSsh
his trucks at moments notice TO
yielding point.
In tho meantime the citizens of all
threatened towns had wrapped up their
art treasures ready for transportation.
1t often happened that Colasentis
trucks would be departing from one
side OF town with their precious
burdens just as the Austrians were en-
tering from the other side.
The plan in most places worked to
perfection. In the case OF the Udine
Museum. the failure to rescue every
thing was due to the reluctance OF the
inhabitants to have the collection
broken up before they were.sure 1t was
necessary. When they saw their mis-
take il was too late to save all the
collection. In the case of the Titan
triptic the rescue party found the viii
lage deserted when they arrived and
the church in which the painting hung
so securely locked that they were un-
able to break in before the Austrians
camc upon them. The other two paint
ings lost proved too large for the
trucks that were sent to get them.
But in most other cases the work
proceeded smoothly and In week
every art object OF any great value
had been safely removed from the in
vaded district. The first attempt was
made at San Daniele but they found
that the Austrians, had arrived there
first. No art objects OF great value
were lost here. however. They sue