The Washington herald., 1918-05-25
U. S. SOLDIERS
TO AID ALLIES
IN ITALY SOON
Secretary Baker in New
York Tells Of War Front
Conditions.

New York, May 24.-American
troops will soon be on the Italian
battle front. lending their aid to
the gallant troops who today en-
tered upon their fourth year Of war
against the central powers. Sec
retary of War Baker. in his address
at the Metropolitan Opera House
here tonight. made this assertion.
He said:
"The time undoubtedly Is not far
distant when American soldiers will
take their places with British and
French soldiers on the italian front.
thus making of the army there q
composite unit, evidencing the COM
munity of feeling and unity Of ef-
fort which characterizes the activi-
ties of the great civilized allied
powers on the front in France"
Mr.. Baker spoke In part as fol-
lows:
Italians Brilliant Achievements.
During my visit to Italy I had
the honor of meeting Gen. Dlaz. the
Italian commander-in-chie and the
members of his stan at the italian
military headquarters. The General
showed me a series Of photographs
pieced together, to make a continu-
Gus picture of the entire Italian
front. For the major part of the
line. the opposing armies occupied
opposite mountain ranges. a wild.
spectacular country. with peaks
lifting their snow-capped heads
seemingly beyond the reach of
mans military effort; peaks up
which no roads could be laid, start
ing suddenly from valleys of for
bidding depth. and yet the wonder
full engineering skill of the Italian
soldiers. by one extraordinary de-
vice or another. has scaled these
peakes. crowned them with big
guns and arranged by cableways
supply systems OF ammunition for
the guns, and subsistence for the
men. until these mountains literally
bristle with Italy's defenders. armed
with modern and powerful weapons.
Soldiers on the Alert.
Passing out of the mountain
system and into the Venetian plain,
Italy's line of battle takes the form
Of modern trench warfare. The
great armies Of Italy have con-
structed a system of trench protec-
tion. which, when one enters. swarm
with soldiers on the alert, armed
with machine guns and rifles. pro-
tected by artillery and overhead by
daring aviators, who control. OBJ
serve and attack in airships built
in Italian factories and manned by
as skillful and brave a group OF
men as have entered this newest
and most perilous of services in any
of the armies.
AT the front and throughout Italy
I was made to feel q very warm and
sympathetic feeling for America and
Americans. / saw many Italian SOL
diers who had spent some time in
the United States, many others who
had friends or relatives here. and
both the soldiers and the civilian
population showed an enthusiastic
friendliness for America; indeed, on
every hand in that country. heard
it said that the same ideas of lib
erty. the same beliefs in the possi-
bilities of just relations among ma
tions, the same hopes of finer op-
portunities for all mankind in a
permanent peace. were shared in
common by Italians and Ameri-
cans"
Our Representatives in Italy.
Already there are in Italy, as rep
resentatives of America, Red Cross
activities and Y. NJ. c. A. activities.
and substantial number OF American
men ard women are cementing the
bond between the two people by these
helpful and humane agencies. The
American Government has established
there dignified military mission. and
a careful study is being made Of Ital-
ian methods of warfare.
I'VE have already sent to Italy a
large nurnbe- of medical units, with
doctors and nurses and equipment,
and the time undoubtedly is not far
distant when American soldiers will
take their places with British and
French soldiers on the Italian front.
thus making of the army on the Ital-
ian front a composite unit evidencing
the community of feeling and unity OF
effort which is characterizing the ac-
tivities OF The great civilized allied
powers on the front in France. We
are making common cause to a COM
mon end. and the blessings Of this
victory will be a benefit not to one
nation or to one people, but to all ma
tions and to all peoples, who, low
ing liberty. are willing to make great
sacrifices for it. and who. having
won it, have no selfish willingness to