Evening star., 1918-10-05
CAPITAL GREETS
ITALIAN FIGHTERS
StaIwart War Veterans, All
Bearing Wounds, Parade.
Mr.. McAdoo Welcomes.
WILL MEET PRESIDENT

Marked with an aggregate Of 100
healed wounds, 265 intrepid soldiers
of sunny Italy were officially welcom-
ed as guests of the United States by
Secretary McAdoo from the steaps of
the Treasury building today.
Each warrior had been wounded.
some tive, some three times and few
as many as five times. Many had
climbed the Alpine peaks. sometimes
when the snow was three feet deep
and sometimes when the fighters were
nearly submerged by the white ele-
ment.
All apparently wanted to get an
other slap at the common enemy.
Every man stood erect, wearing an op-
timistic smile and expressing in looks
and speech the gratitude of Italy for
the part the United States is taking
in the war. Their mission here is
partly to visualize the war, largely to
assist the liberty loan committee in it's
efforts to induce all to buy bonds.
Impressive in Appearance.
Persons who have allowed them
selves to believe that the Italian SOL
dier is an understood man should ex-
anime the stalwart grenadlers. the
sturdy sharpshooters and the strap
ping Alpine fighters. Many of these
exceed six feet in height, and they
have muscles of iron and nerves of
STEEL" as Capt. Romile of the grena-
diers said. In Capt Romile's COM
pany are ten men measuring from six
feet to six feet and six inches.
the captain, proudly; "they are typical
of about twenty battalions who are
doing service at the front"
The captain himself has served more
than three years, has been wounded
three times and is ready to face the
enemy again.
They arrived in the city at o'clock
this morning and were entertained at
breakfast at Liberty Hut. under the
auspices of the war work committee
of the Y. NJ. c. A. Later they were
received by the liberty loan commit
Honor of Dual Escort.
The unusual honor of a dual escort
a company of marines was accorded the
visitors. The marines shared the
plaudits of the public along the line of
march with the soldiers of King Victor
Emmanuel The mounted band from
Fort Myer headed the troop of cavalry:
Among the visitors is Lieut.. Mazzini
of the bersaglieri. He is twenty-one
years old, has been in active service
forty months and has received three
wounds.
Merely some compliments from the
enemy which 1 have reason to believe
were returned with interest" said the
smiling boy veteran. Corp. Santos is
fifty-two years old. He couldn't get into
the army in the regular way. so he vol
unteered and is now carrying three
honor bars on his right sleeve, indicating
that he has been wounded as many
times.
The visitors were accorded a noisy
welcome along the line of march,
which was accentuated when they
reached the Treasury building. The
Italian ambassador stood beside Sec
retary McAdoo and told how proud
he was to know that his country was
fighting shoulder to shoulder with
America in 1.-The holy cause OF human
liberty"
Secretary McAdoo declared that
Itaiy had done great deeds and he was
sure new and even more glorious
deeds would in future be performed
by that nation.
The visitors will be received at the
White House by President wilson
viii viii 20 to New York tonight The
remainder will be entertained at
Liberty Hut and will leave for New
York tomorrow.
They will tour the country in the
interest Of the liberty loan.