The Washington herald., 1918-02-02
Take Care of Italy.

Italy has been cruelty misrepresented to the
allied nations through an apparently incurable
Ignorance of her condition.
Glib talk about her "half-hearted" part in the
war still persists. general feeling exists that she
can be left to shift for herself, that the Aus
Plateau has been halted Neither in London, Paris
or Washington is there true appreciation OF what
the game little Latin nation is up against.
The fact is that Italy is more sorely in need OF
supplies now than ever before. She is knocking
At the door of the allies in vain for recognition of
her just claims All of them to think that
Italy can be served after immediate, and
superhcially urgent. needs have been met;
and the result is that in the concentration of effort
for the Western front, Italy gets practically
nothing.
The true story OF the Cadorna debacle on the
Isonzo has not yet been told, although many
writers have intimated it. When it is told the
world more sympathy will be bestowed the
Italians than is given them now, and the fact will
shine forth that the armies that almost had Trieste
and Laibach in their grip were the unfortunate
victims OF miscarriage OF plans, breaking of an
agreement for which they were in wise re-
sponsible.
Now the eye OF the world is again shifted from
Italy, despite her extremity, and the general as
sumption is that she is SAFE" that the enemy will
not be able to pierce the Piave line. The Italian
food and supply situation is constantly growing
worse; representations are made to the entente
governments without adequate response; coal is
lacking despite the fact that the lack of it, with
other supplies may bring a disaster in the spring
which will be hailed the world the most
astounding German victory since the Grand Duke
Nicholas was rolled back to the Donahec.
Italy was on bread card" basis long ago as
IoIs; her people have been the edge of famine
more than once during the progress of the war;
she has borne numerous sacrifices without COM
plaint and has suffered bitterly from cold, having
no adequate supply of fuel Never has she been
at ease about her food supply. She, has been re-
garded as a sort of Cinderella by France and
Britain to be supplied with what they could spare
after their requirements had been fully salts
fed
Yet the greatest importance has been attached
Ito the Italian front, and when Cadorna was
smashed last fal the entente recognized with the
gravest alarm what Italian collapse would
mean following the detection of Russia. Not until
there was an imminent danger of Italy being
broken and forced out OF the did they respond
with portion of the supplies which had long been
promised to the Italian government; and then the
damage had been done, although Italian courage
brougit the Austro-German offensive to halt far
short OF what the enemy had calculated upon.
Italy is not asking for anything unreasonable.
She is asking for only the plainest food not being
IA intoxicating nation; asking for coal, which Britain
can spare or should see the imperative importance
OF sparing along with the shipping to transport it
to Italian ports. II Italy selfsustainine' ma
|tion it would be vastly different situation. But
she is not, and she came into the war on tacit
understanding with the allies that her legitimate
needs would be taken OF.
The condition of the Italian armies today-to
say nothing OF the civilian population-merits the
closest study from the allied governments if they
prize continued Italian participation in the war at
Its true value. How cruel the veiled insinuatons
are that Italy must fight starye" will be seen
in an instant when the conditions revealed