The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-15
ITALIANS DODGE
HOME WAR CALL
OF 100000 In Other Lands Only
100000 Respond. Half From the
Amcricas-Many Prefer
U. S. Army.
BY PHILIP II. MACKENZIE.

u y. army.
BY PHILIP II. MACKENZIE.
Rome, Jan. l4.-Drg G.. Preziosi, who
is a recognized authority on Italian
emigration, calculates that out of
about 10000 Italian citizens resident
abroad and liable TO military service
only about 100000 have obeyed the
summons TO join the colors. Almost
half of those who obeyed the call to
arms were emigrants In European
countries, as the Italian emigrants In
North and South America who repa-
triated for military service amounted
to 10000, and almost 100000 are de-
faulters.
According to DIR Preziosi, the large
proportion of Italian emigrants In
America failed to join the coIOrs ow-
ing to various causes, the principal
among which being the fact that
many had acquired naturalization
without renouncing their American
citizenship, and as result they are
still considered Italians here while
they are American citizens to all in
tents and purposes in the country of
their adoption.
Ia auu4LiOtis IuG COuIsENt~
ed with repatriations from America
able. For instance, most Italians set
tied in America would have had so
bring over their families with them,
as they could not continue their bust
ness or keep their dependents on the
small subsidy granted by the Italian
government 10 soldiers families. Jtal-
ian emigrants have not been sufficient
ly encouraged by the consulal author-
tiles to repatriate for military service
Transport facilities are lacking. ard
no assurance was given them that ar
ter the war they could return to
America and resume their work there
even If they happened to be illiterate.
Subsidies Wanted for Families.
Now that Italian emIgrants IN
America VIII have no other option but
TO join the American army in case
they refuse to repatriate for military
service in Italy even II the question
of naturalization remains unsettled
until after the war. 1t will be neces~
sary that sufficient transportation ia
cilities will be available for those emf
grants who prefer to serve In the
Italian army and that the subsidies
granted to their families by the Itai-
ian government should be increased
lest they should be deferred from re-
on account of the fear that
their families will become destitute.
There is every reason to believe that
the special agreement or convention
between Italy and America regulating
the question OF Italian emigrants liza
Bile to military service win include.
besides n general amnesty to nil de-
faulters and deserters, also special
provisions relating to transportation
faol$ies and special subsidies to SOL
diers' families.
A group of members Of parliament
have given notice Of a motion upon
which they insist there shall be an
early discussion. demanding that the
rations of soldiers should be in
creased and improved that wooden
underwear and blankets should be
provided for men at the front without
delay and that financial compensation.
cons sting either in a reward or a sum
of money paid TO the family, should
be granted to all men decorated for
valor
The question of soldiers ratIons is
Justly considered OF the utmost i'm
portanee and its immediate solution
Is urged lest the resistance and eff
cheney OF the army should be weak
ened, the more so as the British and
French troops now on the Italian
front are exceptionally well fed As
the rations OF the italian troops in
Macedonia have been specially i'm
proved In order that they should not
compare unfavorably with the food
allowance of the Auglo-French troops
there, probably the same system will
he adopted on the Italian front.
Pope Planning Protest.
ALTHOUGH no comment ia allowed in
the Catholic press about the secret
clause in the treaty between italy AMI
France, England and Russia exclud-
ing any Interference on the part OF
the pope In connection with the war.
st'll II Ia well known that the resent
ment of Italian Catholics is cons'd-
cradle. II is possible that the pope
opportune time" as the official organ
Of the holy see openly limited against
the attitude of the italian government
toward the holy see. II is known
when such protest VIII he made and
what form II will be given, but il is
certain that in any case the pope
will refrain from provoking any dis
satisfaction among the Catholics In
Italy now united with all other parties
for the defense OF the country, or Gre
at'ng complications for the Italian
government.
The report that Signor Media. min
tster OF finance ana representative OF
The Catholics In the cabinet. will re-
sign Is unfounded The popes pro-
test, in all probability. will be limited
to reiterated assurances made In some
public utterance that the holy see
never aimed to secure any advantage
from the war and In no case was the
restoration of. temporal power even
remotely connected with any of the
pope's initiatives toward peace.