Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-22
THE ITALIAN RETREAT-VI
BY HERBERT COREY

United States-muSt help in her time OF neeu
She needs help; she must have help; but it is
important that it be also realized that Italy is
tremendous and almost untouched potential asset
Time will show whether that asset can be real
lied upon. 1t certainly cannot if the susceptblil-
ties Of proud people are injured at every turn D!
sheer tactessness. Already there have been col
lisions between individual Italians and indlVldual
French and British soldiers at the front. the
Italians resented the patronizing assurance that;
I'VE have come down here to win the war LOT
Italy.
Perhaps the Italians touchy. Perhaps.
smarting under defeat and tardy realization of
the that brought about that defeat, they
apt to take offense at laundering friendship.
But it is worth while recognizing that state of
mind and bearing ourselves accordingly. | was
assured by American in close touch that some
thing of the good the American Red Cross has done
rubbed off by the comment of a Red Cross
inspection party which had examined Italian
hospital of which the surgeons were Justly proud.
I'VE have few better hospitals in the United
States, was the kindly assurance. Then, IN an
effort to be- quite accurate the heavy handed in
spector added: "Of course, we somewhat dis
organized at home just now
Italy's potential value lies in two directions:
First, in the matter of man power. She has
not called her men above the age of thirty-sx.
Great Britain is lowering about the forty fveyear
old line. France has sent men of forty-fve and
fifty years of age to the Italian front
She has by means tapped the power
under that age. Her towns dripping with
young of military age. Only the rural popu-
lation has been taken to anywhere near the
script possibilities.
need not be insisted upon at this time, when the
central empires have certainly stripped themselves
of every valid to carry the war. In the
pessimism of the moment it must not be forgotten
that Germany and Austria, in spite of their recent
military have reached the stage of moral
and material decay at home.
Second the Italian frontier offers opportun-
ity to thrust straight the heart of Austria and
the Austrian heart is notably not sound in war,
for variety of reasons ranging f>om political to
racial as that of Germany. A great offensive into
the Austrian plain was only prevented prior to the
October collapse by Cadornas confession that his
army could not make another.
The recognition of the vulnerability OF the
Austrian line-from a political rather than from a
purely military view-was reached rather late by
the allies. But that it has been recognized
it may be hoped that time during 1918 the
offensive will be uttered, even though it may
to be year late But before this can be done
Italy as an asset must be realized.
1t must be admitted at the outset that there are
difficulties in the way. There half dozen ee-
ments in Italy antagOnistic to the war. But for
vital fact to be set forth later those elements
would certainly prove themselves in control of the
situation. Offce-hungry statesmen will assuredly
try to cater to the official Socialists and other pro-
peace and defeatist factions.
1t may be that a Clemenceau, a Lloyd George
a Hindenburg, if you will-must be found to get
out of the situation all its possibilities. The allies
cannot Prussianize their ally-let me be frank and
say unfortunately. But there is a stern means of
applying pressure that Italy shall reorganize
herself. 1t may be put in the words of Signor
Nitti, a member of the Italian cabinet:
why did Italy enter the WARP" he
asked.
Italy had to Fighter starve,' said he
Nitti rebuked by most of the papers and
statesmen of Italy for talking plain common sense
instead of the rainbow platitudes which politicians
and editOrs-love. Since then the same statesmen
and editors have recognized that he told the truth
Today some may arise in Italy to tell his
trymen that the formula may be added to:
Italy must Highland organiZe-or starve''
Shortly before the military collapse of October
General Cadorna in despairing effort to bring the
Rome government to realization of the truth, is
said to have written to Signor Sonino concise
summary of the political and military chaos which
his country approaching:
"Our great need" he said then, lis of national
discipline"
That national discipline implies entering upon
the war in the wholly national spirit, born of
resentment of the invasion, and which only needs
to be properly directed make Italy great force
in the Her man-force should be mobil1zed
her fields next year should be titled; her army
should be trained along the modern methods of
warfare. These three suggestions are the result OF
no flash of inspiration my part.
ITALY HAS BEEN WARNED OF THIS TRIPLE
NEED BY THE MEN OF THE ALLIES WHO
HAVE THE RIGHT TO WARN.
This war has passed beyond the stage when too
much consideration may be shown for the feeling
of the man who does not do his part. Every ounce
of support the allies have is needed for the fight
ing line. Not ounce may be safely diverted
The situation may be restated in Signor Nittis
blunt crude repellent but everlastingly truthful
words: -
Italy must fighter starve"
Italy is today on the verge of starvation be
cause a government that forever catered to poltl-
cal elementS-and 1t was no uouDI coupelieu W
do So because if it had fallen those political ele-
ments each had stop the war in their mouths
has failed to make full use of its agricultural
potentialities. The eaters were almost left I'M
touched in town The producers, the peasants
were taken for the army. The Italian aristocracy
which owns the farming land, was permitted to
leave it in grass. It should have been broken up
and seeded to wheat.
In normal times Italy produces vastly less food
than she consumes This is not consumption Of
Injuries that refer to, for the Italian is frugal
spender and the Italian wife careful and eco
nomical cook Nor is the sort of food she needs
at all expensive Above all, she must have flour
and corn meal and rice. The italian is a greater
eater of paste" Given pleasant feeling OF tul-
ness he is satisfied and he is best satisfied to get
that feeling by combination of flour and cheese
But he must have it.
There is only possibility of revolution in
ITALY said an observer of years of diplomatic
training THAT is if the -four fails.
The need for food is intensified now, of course,
bv the flood of refugees filing Italian towns from