The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-24

ny the time the armlSuce Win AuS-
tria went into effect. Italian troops
had already pushed far north into the
mountains OF the Trentino. The re-
zion west Of the Adige had fallen into
Italian hands. many Austrian strong
holds had been yielded up. and patrols
were creeping along the river in the
direction of Bolzano. In word, !taiia
Irredenta was virtually won back.
When o'clock struck on the after
noon of November the Italian army
staff was in headquarters in the city
of Trent
The recapture Of this severed por-
ton OF italy means the achievement
of hope which has been cherished
by the Italian people ever since the
premature peace of 1866 left a num-
Der OF Italian provinces under Aus
TRAN domination. 1t also marks the
elimination Of one OF the most ardu-
Gus, undertakings ever attempted IN
modern warfare.
Trent, surrounded by mountains. Is
a characteristic Italian city OF 80, 600
inhabitants The Trentino district is
occupied almost exclusively by 1tal-
iana. Even the last official Austrian
census, compiled by Vienna, admitted
that $4,000 Of the $4,000 population
were italians. Riva, on Lake Garda.
and dozen other cities of the region,
have italian populations and are full
Of examples Of Italian architecture
and art. And II IL not only the cities
that ara italian. The surrounding val
1eys and mountain slopes can scarce
~ show one German for every thou
sand Inhabitants.
1t IL one OF the anomalies Of his
tory that such a province should have
remained for over a century under
Austrian rule. but It has been highly
priced by the Hapsourgs because of Its
military and strategic possibilities
ence OF this mountainous wedge.
barbed on all sides with fortresses
projecting into the midst of the Ital-
ian plains. As one Italian journalist
expressed II: The possession OF the
Trenttno for the Germans has meant
the holding OF an enormous foot shod
with mountains upon the neck OF
Italy"
Austria's sway has been irksome.
not solely because she has menaced
italy in a military way. but also be-
cause Of the oppressive fashion in
which she has dealt with her Italian
provinces. In some respects the dual
monarchy nas been stupidity brutal:
In others. II has been rather adroit.
From 1866 to 1917 the regions Of the
Trentino and the Julian Veneto have
been carefully watched for evidences
of anything that seemed like the be-
ginning OF revolution. Individuals
suspected of being acitators were inn
prisoned. banished or in a number OF
cases. executed. Schools were Ger
manized. newspapers. books and PLAYS
were censored in the strictest man
ner and every expression OF Italian
allegiance was sttf1ed.
Auxtria's FNvoritc Policy.
In addition TO these laundering ef
forts to re-make the Italian provin-
cials into faithful German subjects.
the Viennese authorities muSt be cred
tied with a certain degree of clever
ness In stimulating ifl-feefing between
some OF the subject races, il order to
avoid the danger OF any un y among
them against Austro- Hungarian rule.
II il the old Hapsburg game OF
divide and rule" Austria is accused
OF having practised this policy ex-
tensively among the Jugoslavs and
Italian irredentists. The result has
been a wave OF aragonism between
the provincial Slavs and Italians who
by rights. ought to be allies and
friends The wis~<' leaders among
these peoples recognize the futilsty OF
chickering's about the Adriatic lands,
hut the distrust sown largely by Aus
tria will be hard to uproot.
Italy's campaign in the war has
been attended with serious Difficult
ties The exigencies OF mountain war
fare have forced the italian troops to
contend not only against superior Aus
trian forces higher up In the hills,
but also against rock rrectpices, ice
slopes and freezing weather. In
three years of enntinporE, obscure.
hand-to- hand fighting all along a
chain OF forhiddingly rugged noun
tains occupied even TO the Hottest
YNrt ha
enemy 1853 officers ara lsssas pri-
yate soldiers, Some idea of the en-
cheering fcats involved can be
CLEANED from the fact that 1t was
necessary 10 build $500 kiiometers OF
entirely new traffic road and to swing
1900 kilometers OF teIepheric cables
from cliT to Gilt. for the transpor-
tation of troops and supplies.
The problem of man-power has
been acute. From the beginning OF
the war, italy has called to arms
little less than $500 600 mep and has
suffered loss OF $500 900 In the
recent fighting on the Austrian front.
italy has had at her disposal only 81
divisions with which to oppose the
20 divisions Of the enemy. II Is also
said that the forces sent by italy into
France. Albania. Macedonia and Pail
estine have been greater than the
combined forces sent into Italy by
the allies Until the conclusion of
the Austrian armistice there was not
a single existing division Of Italian
troops which was not active In some
one OF the theaters OF war.
In the matter OF industries and nat
ural resources italy was not we'll pre-
pared to enter the war She lacked
coal. for example. In spite OF these
various handicaps, italy has fought
with great obstinacy. Among her
bravest fighting men have been sol