Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-15
III Treatment Of Italian
Soldiers Aided Greet ROut
AtHands of AustO- Germans

when hilltop fought against hilltop and
city against city. The organization of
the Italian state is but the tying to-
gether of political fagots. The lesser
states preserve their Identity and their
ancient antagonisms.
Government Is Autocratic
Before the war the Italian army was
a great instrument in breaking down
this system of political airlocks, by
which neighbors were Theoretically shut
off from neighbors. Regiments were
given the names of cities-Tur!n, Milan
Genoa for example--but they were al
ways recruited from distant localities
The Siclian was sent to the north OF
Italy. The Lombard served among the
orange groves of the south. Their eyes
were opened to the magnitude and to
the possibilities of their land. Through
the army a national spirit was being
gradually created. The Lbyan war Of
few years ago aided greatly in solidi-
flying the nation.
If this war had been presented to
Italy. rank and file, military and civil,
as a great national duty, the consensus
Of opinion is that Italy would have re-
sponded nobly.
But il was not The italian govern.
ment has been autocratic in action, al
though truly liberal and patriotic in
motive. Signors Sonnino, Salandra, Or
lando, the others charged with the duty
of direction, have acted as an autocracy
They nave either feared to take the peo-
pie into their confidence or they have
not thought it worth while. Sonnino is
the great spirit in the Italian cabinet
He is a man of intellect and heart and
sincerity. Yet his passion for secrecy
has become proverbial in Italy. He
trusts the people not at all, and indi-
viduals rarely.
whenever 1 enter Signor Sonnino,S
room" said a diplomat of insight and
humor, 81 always have the feeling that
when 1 tapped upon the door Sonnino
thrust an important paper into
drawer and turned the key"
In other countries there was not the
need for propagandizing the masses
that there was in Italy. In these other
countries the people read the news
papers. In Italy the percentage of
illiteracy runs very high. The amount
actually spent-spent--on education
was extremely small before the war
The newspapers as a rule have small
Calculations and are almost always.
confined 20 the cities The peasant
reads hardly at all. He hates the
Austrian with an old HATRED, but he
knows nothing evil of the German
acts and aims
City Men Escaped Army
Unfortunately, from several points
of view, the Italian army is, mostly
made UP of peasants. The townspeople
are infected with socialism, and so the
young men of the towns were largely
permitted to evade military service be-
fore the war, while the patient and 10y
al peasant was forced to do his bit.
That way political troubles were avoid
ed and an excellent army created. When
the war was declared against Italy
cd RI q
colors. No one bothered to tell them
why. They were merely summoned. In
a vague way they knew they were to
fight their old enemy, Austria-and
they liked that-but they did not know
why they were to fight. An unknown
and unseen government had demanded
of them the "blood tax"
Nor after fighting began were they
granted any ehlightment The daily
communicates from headquarters were
filled with praise for the, achievements
, of the italian troops but the men still
felt themselves lighting in an unknown
cause. Try to realize the depth of ig-
norance in which these Internationally
shrewd and intelligent, but quite UNI
schooled-are sunk. A comparatively
few of them read, even of those who
are able to read. They come from iso-
lated communities in the hills and val
pean politics came as rarely as to the
Blackfoot reservation in Glacier Park.
The HEADQUARTERS communicates issued
by Cadorna are perfect examples of the
art of telling nothing. They gave his
men no hint as to war aims, enemy
plans, or actual achievements. Very
rarely did they tell of the setbacks en-
countered. When they did, Signor Son
nino is said to have censored them.
,1Ny .af0V1aY a nd
ing general who was thus edited by the
home government His men were left
Fighting in the dark, at the will OF
the government to which they feel the
most vague loyalty because a true ma
tionaI spirit has not yet been developed,
| for purposes that were not revealed
They began to murmur more than year
| ago. Then the government-or the
Great Headquarters-gave the final
proof that it did not understand the
democratic and really patriotic spirit
of it's men.
If the situation had then been set
before the army; if the reasons why
Italy was at war had been frankly told
and the fine ends aimed at eloquently
set forth, the men would have respond
ed nobly.
| So, at least, am assured by men who
are in close touch with affairs. Instead,
| the government began a series OI PROM
/ Uses which were only stop gaps.
Government Broke Promises
The men were assured unofficially
| that if this or that were done they
would be free to go home. Last winter
| was to have been the last winter of
the war. The war was to be over when
! the Bainsizza platueau was taken. Each
| time the army reached the goal a new
stunt was set for it. No more perfect
| ly efficient method of breeding discon-
/ tent among men who are democrats and
patriots at heart could have been de-
vised. Some sort of revolt had for
| months been looked forward to as a GER
tainty.
! 1t is true that great stress was laid
upon the redemption of Italia Irreden-
ia" and the creation of a Greater
Italy" But it must be remembered
| that only the borderers take the faint
est interest in the regaindng of the Tren-
| tino and Triest. The Italian system of
political compartments operated against
| it, The Venetian might hope for Triest
out the unlettered and peaceful Sicilian
only wanted to be left alone. He might
have been educated into a realization
! that until the Trentino and Triest are
| secured for Italy her natural and proper
| cxpansion-and above all her military
and industrial safety-cannot be Sc
cured
No one bothered to tell him. lie was
merely ordered to go out and fight. In
/ time he rebelled
4 IT. mt IF hp CIT