The Washington herald., 1918-05-05

grim business OF war.
The queer directions that national
sentiment-or sentimentallty-gets at
/ times are quite beyond understand
ing. For instance, one with q lik-
ling for that sort OF thing ana bank
account capable Of bearing the strain.
could attend q beneht bail or con-
cert or theater or something else
every day, and usually oftener. for
some worthy cause Of France. Eng
land or Belgium. The serbians come
in for an ample share Of considera-
ton, and report from the twilight
zone brings assurance that In some
other social circles Liberia IL get
ting its full share OF charitable at
tention. But somehow our italian al
lies manage to be overlooked most OF
the time. Who has danced for the
usufruct Of the Italian Red Cross or
Y. N. c. A. or blind soldiers or
Women War Workers? Echo an
swers.
II isn't fair. either. The italians
have been In a position that ought 70
entitle them peculiarly to American
sympathy and understanding. Like
our own country. they DIDN'T come In
to the war at the beginning. They
even subjected themselves to much
criticism and endless hatred in Hun
land because they abandoned the
Triple Alliance rather than engage
on barbarisn's side in o war against
those who are now our allies. They
behaved very much a. America did,
waiting till they were sure which
side deserved their support: and then
they declared for civiiizotion's cause.
They are bad press agents. these
italians. They have not made their
cause and Accomplishments UNDER
stood on this side. Yet the truth IL
that they have performed. wonders
oecond to the Accomplishments " no
other country.
Italy 10 q poor country: rich In na-
tional pride and tradition, but with
meager stores Of material wealth.
and limited resources available for
development Of war industries. They
were called upon to enter the strug-
gle under circumstances highly dis
advantageous to themselves, 10th
militarily and economically. In the
first place, the boundary line drawn
at Austrian instisation after the wars
Of Italian liberation, placed all the
advantage on Austria's side. Aus
tria held the crests Of the mountains,
Italy held the plains. For two gen
erations Italian military genius had
been devoting itself to planning a
strategy to overcome these disadvan-
tages. Gen. Cadorna. whom many
yet regard as the greatest strategist
the war has developed despite the
Italian reverse a few months ago.
L. III -
struggle that should finish the liberia
country. Before him his father. an
other famous Italian soldier. lad
worked at the same problem.
Italy was compelled to borrow
heavily when she entered the war.
and to mobilize her national re-
sources with a care that no other
great power needed enforce. The
Industrial area OF northern Italy.
developed in the last generation
but still little appreciated by tha
outside world, was almost literally
commandeered by the government.
Factories by the thousand were
taken over by the government and
converted to government use. Italy
produces no iron and no coal OF its
own, so these had to be brought
from overseas. chiefly from Spain
and Britain. This imposed Q fearful
demand on the Italian merchant
marine. supplemented though 1t was
by bottoms loaned by Britain.
How many people realize that the
Italian army 10 today in all prob
ability the second most numerous
on the side of the allies? Not only
Is II that, but among the allies
armies in Europe II Is quite pos
sibly the most numerous. This
astonishing statement Is made on
the best OF authority. Great Britain
has raised more soldiers than Italy,
but great numbers OF them have
been sent to far distant service.
Considering the western line as
unity from the North Sea to the
Adriatic, Italy is holding about
half Of It. and probably has more
men protecting 1t than either
France or Britain. Fully four mil
lion men, II is declared, have been
drawn into the Italian uniform.
From distant parts Of the world
the Italian emigres have come home
in vast numbers, indicating a splen-
did loyalty to the home country.
Italians in America have been gen.
erous toward their own country be-
fore America was in the war. and
to this country since it has been
selling liberty bonds.
Who has not noticed the high
proportion Of Italian names sprink-
led through the casualty lists pub
lished by our war department
since our boys got into the isht-
ing? One hears II constantly COM
mented on. as one OF the striking
high proportion OF Italian-Ameri-
cans who have entered the service
is only consonant with the attitude
Of Italians everywhere.
The difficulties OF campaigning on
the Italian front have been describ-
ed 90 many times Of late that they
are beginning to be better under
stood; and one cannot but rejoice
that Italy is at length coming into
some Of the recognition due to It.
Nowhere have the women Joined more
unreservedly in supporting the ma
tionai cause. In the industrial CEN
ters by tens OF thousands they have
stepped into the places OF men. doing
a hundred tasks that women nowhere
attempted, before the war proved
them equal to Just about anything
the men could do. They are carrying
the major share In cultivating the
fields from which Italy is fed: and
Italy. it must be kept in mind, though
nature has treated 1t badly in the
matter Of iron and coal, is almost
self-supporting as to foods. The
thrift and frugality of the italian
masses IL proverbial; even the French
peasant can teach the Italian moth
ing, while the Scotsman who has
been away from home takes Off his
hat to Italy as the country that in