The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-21
BY DIR. MARIO BoRsA

7 (EdltOr OF the Milan Ii Secolo.J
Milan, Sept. 2O-The news that the
late Senator Tillman suggested that
President Wilson send to Italy a big
American army was received here
with much qualification 1t was inter-
preted, first of all, as sign of grow
ing interest toward our country and
fuller appreciation of our particular
situation.
do-not wish to be misunderstood
when I refer to our particular situa-
ton. We all of course know and feel
that there is only one cause. But the
experiences of these four years has
taught us that the best way of fur
thering of it is not to overlook a situ-
alton that is naturally varied and not
to overlook the particular single men,
hers of the alliance.
Now, what is the particular situa-
don in Italy?
Our brilliant recovery from the
Caporetto disaster aroused popular
sympathy in America. where our cause
and conduct never perhaps received a
full measure of appreciation. But our
task did not end there. Our soldiers
bravely stopped and repealed the Aus
tro- Hungarian onslaught at the Piave;
but that is only a beginning. They
are now faced with the bigger task os
i driving the enemy from our invaded
J provinces.
Task Ahead Is Big.
Can our soldiers alone do that? We
all hope so. Never has the spirit of
our army been so high; never has the
determination of our country, tho hard
tried by all possible sacrifices. suffer-
ihgs and privations, been SO strong
and unanimous.
Yet, one must not forget two things:
First, that of all the allies now fight
ing, the Italians are the weakest. Sec
ond, that they are faced by a still
very powerful and efficient foe.
What our king said lately to a repre-
sentative of the Paris Matin is per-
fkctly true and worthy of considera-
tion. IF Austria suffers famine he
remarked. her soldiers are well fed.
If she lacks leather, her soldiers have
good shoes. 1t is an army still very
strong, of a country of 52,000,000 in
ha bftants. Turned entirely against US,
having no longer any enemy in the
east. Austria has not weakened herself
these last months by single division"
Such being the situation. the allies
Understand the chapces of our success
will be greater if we are able to count
ON effective support from our allies.
But, as the British and French are
kept busily engaged on the western
front, to whom should we look, if not
the Americans-whosea armies are big,
fresh and available for all purposes?
This is the reason why, given the
particular situation of the Italian
the late Senator Tillman and hope it
will be favorably received by President
Wilson and the American people.
Wilson Should Fight Austria.
But there are other reasons and
even stronger. why for the sake. not of
our particular but the general situa-
ton, the young and splendid Ameri-
can legions should be fastened to
Italy. Such reasons are found in the
logical sequel and development. of the
policy adopted by President Wilson.
Since the president has pledged, his
country to free all branches of the
Siav race under Austrian misrule,
since particularly he has recognized
the national Czecho-Slovak council he
isslogically bound to fight Austria and
enforce his policy by the sword.
Let us not be deceived by certain
current fallacies. To believe there is
only one foe, and that once Germany
is defeated the allies will be able to do
what they like with Austria is an alb
surdity. Even when Germany is driv-
zen back to the Rhine. the allies will
not be able to bring about the indie
pendence of Bohemia and Jugo-Slavia
if the Austrian armies are still on the
left bank of the Piave. If, when we
speak of breaking up Austria, we
Know what we mean, we cannot expect
that event will come about by auto
matte operation or complacent suicide
on her part. We first must beat Aus
tria in the field.
Z President Wilson said rightly in his
message to President Poincare on
June a., that only by victory will
peace be achieved. But it must be a
victory over Austria as well as Ger
lnany