Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-13
FIGHT UNDER ONE
LEADER, HIS PLAN
Italian General Backs Up Pres
ident Wilson's Views to
Combine Operations.
HIGH TIME FOR DECISIONS
Appointment of Single Generalis-
simo Imperative at This
Time, He Says.
HIGH TIME FOR DECISIONS
by c. CIANFARRA.


the dcliverer of Gorilla, and leader OF
the military group in the Chamber OF
Deputies, said in the course of an in-
tcrview about the present military
situation. not only OF italy. but Of tho
allies in general that he fully shares
President Wilson's views concerning
the necessity of co-ordinating the
military operations of tho allies and
appointing a single gencralissimo to
conduct the war in the interest Of tha
allied cause.
General Marazzi who retired from
the army right after the capture OF
Gorilla. which, in way. was the
browning work of his active partici-
patton in the war operations under
General Cadorna. added that he will
go even farther than President Wilson
and will advocate in Parliament and
outside OF it a complete fusion OF tho
allied forces holding the front from
the North Sea to the Adriatic, together
with n number OF other important
measures which he deems as absolutely
essential If the war is to be won. and
Won quickly.
president Wilson's very logical
ate their efforts has not surprised mo.
As far back as last winter in an articles
that appeared simultaneously in sew
eral newspapers. l spoke OF the neces.
sity Of effecting the unity of fronts
under the command of n single general.
But this is not the tmc for re-
Grim nations. but rather high time for
decisions and deeds. The appointments
OF n single Generalssimo is impera-
tive. and what has been said In higm
allied quarters about tho inadvisa biliLy
OF appointing one, AS it would be a
source OF friction among the allies, is
hardly true.
1T is. on the other hand, quite cer-
tain that IL war council is formed
without seneralissimo. things will
keep on going in practically the same
old way. From my point of view
which is also the point OF view Of
large number OF responsible men, be-
sides appointing generalissimo, tho
allies should also unity the war fronts
and amalsamate the armies holding
them.
ILLUSTRATES PROPOSALS.,
TO SELECT GENERALS
ITO illustrate my proposal: The al.
selected among the most successful OF
allied generals now on the field. This
gcncralissimo should be assisted by a
permanent advisory board composed OF
given number of the leading military
experts Of each allied country.
AS long as tho board and the gen.
craliesimo's views on each step to be
taken for the good of the allied cause
no
allied governments to interfere. but
the moment there was n dsagreement.1
the moment there should be any fric.
ton, the governments would act col-
iectively as supreme arbiters and des
eide between the board and the gen.
raissimo
BUT single command would pracs
ucally be devoid of efficiency if, at
the same time, complete fusion oe
tho armies were not effected, In do.
ing this we will simply be copying
what our enemies have already done,
and of which they have given us a fair
example III the invasion OF Friuli,
when Germans, Hungarians, Bulsarians
and Turkish units operated under q
single command. rt
ALLIES SHOULD HAVE
Or
ITO be more explicit: The allies
should have three groups of armies
one in Belgium. one in France and ono
IN Italy Each group should be com.
posed Of three armies-one English.
one Italian and one French Thus the
allies. besides putting on the field
homogeneous armies. imbued: with
line spirit OF emulation, but obeyinE
TO single central authority, would
at the same time bring home to the
troops the fact that they are fighting
Tor a common cause. Thus, and only
thus, the single command could per-
form it's functions and save the allies"
Besides this General Marazzi said
much that the Italian censor would
not allow to pass. but which is likely
to form, sooner or later, the subject
or lengthy debates in Parliament.
Turning from the military to the
economic field. the general said:
ADVANCES ECONOMIC
REFORofa IN MILITARY
Side by side with the military re-
forms | have already described, L adj.
Nocatc several more OF an economic
nature but as important as the others,
and which, though directly interesting
italy. are also of the greatest interest
FOR the allies as long as Italy is in
the alliance and her several millions
or soldiers are supposed to play o
leading part in helping win the war.
First of all. the colossal loans which
are still to be made to the allies muse
be guaranteed by the allies. the United
states included. collectively. Second.
the total expenses OF the war should
he divided among the allies in propor-
lion TO their national wealth.
Third. the allies should eua,antna
to US what we need in order to live
and work during and after tho war.
II this is not possible. we'll"
General Ararazzi also said that. since
Russia has dropped out. the pact foe {
London should be revised. and that the
United States should declare war on 4
all Gcrmany's allies. IS