New-York tribune., 1918-04-28
Italy, With rReorganized Army, Awaits
With Confidence Any Attack by euton

country is with them it would be worth
thousands of soldiers"
And it was the first thing that Cen
eral Diaz said after greeting me at
his field headquarters, "Will America
send US some troops?" Pursuing the
subject later, he continued: owe do
not need men, but we need very much
the moral effect that Americas flag
would have upon our people,
"Italy has given America thousands
of her citizens, and is now sending
other thousands to labor for Americas
army in France. She feels that it
establishes bond between the two
countries and looks in this moment of
her own stress for understanding and
help. If the American flag was flying on
our line, over however small body of
men in the United States uniform, we
could face the disloyalty behind our
own line with composure"
Expect Austrian
Drive Any Day
Certainly nowhere could America
Just now do as much toward winning
the war on so small an effort as by
yielding to the request of Italy to
send the Stars and Stripes. After
all, it is the spirit of the people be-
hind the line that counts in a war of
endurance such as this, and behind
no line does it count so heavily as in.
Italy, where the Allies have SO much
to gain or lose. I do not pretend, of
course, to discuss the situation from
military point of view-that is for the
experts-7but l do assume to express,
as I saw and sensed it, the temper of
the army and the people. And do be-
lieve the situation is grave enough to
make it the part of wisdom for the
Allies to do promptly and Immediately
every possible thing to help Italys
patriots neutralize Italy's native dis
loyalists and the German propaganda,
which are acting in concert to under
mine the morale of the troops through
the peace cry of the people, and thus
to throw the country again into the
lap of the Hapsburgs.
1t is reasonable that Germany should
drive at the weakest point in the
Allies line, which is Italy. 1t is rea-
sonable to suppose that she will push
Austria to another strong attack and
will help~her to it. She cannot release
men from the Western front, but she
can augment Austria's strength by
enough heavy artillery to make the
Alps bristle with guns against Italy,
now standing on the last rung of the
mountain ladder leading down to her
plains.
1t is difficult line to hold, but the
positions are as strong as her engi-
neering skill, aided by that Of the
French, can make them (Which is say
ing much), and both the British aid
French forces are located where their
strength and experience will serve
most effectively. The Austrians are in
for surprise on their attack, and I
pelleVe mat tnelr utmost effort will
fail.
But. with the probability of still an
other winter in the trenches there is
always the spirit behind the lines to
reckon with, which is why it is SO
vital to the Allies success that Italy's
patriots should be backed up now, as
has been suggested 1t is vital to the
Allies success that the people behind
all the lines-in England, America,
France and Canada-should keep their
fighting spirit blazing. We have to
keep up our courage and hold to our
faith. however dark some days may be.
Light is ahead We can beat the
Boche, and we will. The army with
the last punch is going to win this
war,