Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-19
Men Could Not Go Home


When the men were released from the front
too they did not 60 into rest camps do the
men OF the French and British armies. There was
reason for that, for the Italians have been forced
to build thousands of miles Of military roads
many hundreds of these miles being unfortunately
in the possession Of the enemy. But the man
whose nerves torn by months OF constant
fighting and harassing anxiety for the folks at
home did not relish the idea Of dropping a rifle
only to. take up a pick Yet that was the rule.
The military alienation was from the front
line and fighting to the rear and road-making-
They became tired, disguised, stale. Meanwhile
they saw for themselves that there dispro-
poFtionately small number of young men in their
ranks, except the young men taken from the coun
try districts If they passed through small town
back of the line they saw that town filled with
youngsters going to cinemas, eating ices in front
of cafes, flirting The peasant soldier began to feel
that he being sacrificed unfairly Rome reeks
with young of military age who should be in
the army-and who it may be hoped will be put
there,
What is of hardly less Importance is the fact
that the Italian officer of today is the weak ele
ment in the Italian army This not the
with the officers of the first days OF the
These of the old regular army, and had
been trained not merely to command, but to lead
The peasant soldier has pathetically childlike at
titude toward his officer He expects that indi-
action. To the efficient officer he gives wholly
childlike devotion. But the old regulars were
killed invalided out of service or detached for
the important work of organization, their places in
the expanding army were filled by new class.
New Officers Inefficient
In her need of officers Italy hit upon the ex-
pedent OF summoning for that purpose men who
held university degrees. No doubt she had no op-
ton. Men of intelligence and education are imper-
atively demanded for such positions Unfortunately
the educated classes of Italy precisely the ones
in which pro-Germanism is strongest. The peasant
is loyal to his country to the backbone The mer-
chants and bankers and professors lack that 10y
atty as classes. Many of these who were loysI
enough in spirit would-be embusuues They
did not want to fight They had no COMPREHENSION
of their task.
Too many of the new officers look upon the
soldiers mere peasants I was told by man
who had been in close observation from the begin
ming. AS though they were hardly better than
oxen"
To this lack of care for and comprehension of
their men may be charged the spread of the dis
affection which lowered in the collapse of October
stood as bringing these charges against the new
officers masse. Thousands OF them are of the
highest quality. Unfortunately there were other
thousands who were not, and certain proportion
who were actively disloyal. Some Of these from
the borders and Austrian in blood and feeling
though Italian in speech and residence,
To these causes for disaffection may be added
the folly of the government after the Turin riots
of August last At that time the socialist workmen
of Turin organized a demonstration which
only Gueled by the of the machine guns against
the crowds in the streets Wholly modification
there are no official statements of acknowledgements
are that from 400 to 500 persons then wound
ed. The Turin regiments refused to fire and troops
brought in from elsewhere. The ringleaders
were taken and incorporated in the army as pun
ishment
Then, to put the cap a history of ineptitude
these men were sent to the regiments at the front
in which conditions were the most threatening. II
was adding fuel to live flame. 1t these regi-
ments which led the strike" which resulted in the
military collapse.
Yet some of the very regiments have fought well
since then, thanks to the birth of a national
spirit by reason of the German invasion.