The sun., 1918-07-30
MAY GET WITHIN
REACH OF VIENNA
Diaz Will Win Gorilla Plateau,
Brigadier- General Scriven>
Prophesies.
WAS WITH ITALIAN ARMY
U. s. Military Observer Tells
Of His Experiences Along
Piave Front. ,

That the army Of -.orth italy under
the command Of Gen. Dias In driving
the invading Austrlans back toward the
Isonza will reach The plateau OF Gorizia,
and possibly the town Of Laibach. within
striking distance Of Vienna itself. was
the belief expressed last night by Brig
Cen George p. scriven, United states
military observer with the Italian
armies. who has just returned from his
mission in the Mediterranean.
Gen. Scriven was the speaker at a
meeting held under the auspices Of the
Roman Legion Of America in the audi
torium Of the Engineering Societies
Building.
The arrival Of American troops on the
Italian front was referred to by Gen.
Scriven, who declared his belief that
italians and Americans together should
soon give an account Of the enemy that
will be lasting"
81 have learned to admire and respect
the Italian soldiers from the command
Ing Generals to the last gray clad recruit
IN the ranks he said. His knowledge of
the fibre Of the Italian troops prevented
him from fearing utter disaster at the
time Of the big Austrian offensive. when
the Second Italian army became demon
| allied. largely through enemy propa-
ganda which had been insldiously spread
| among the soldiers, declared Gen.
| Scriven.
The army Of the Plave resolved to
| hold its line and II did So" he contin-
| ued.
King Just q Soldier.
Gen. Scriven told Of his first meeting
with King Victor Emmanuel III. the
| evening of his arrival at the front
1T was the simple greeting Of one
soldier to another" said he. "One eve.
ming in November ! motored out to a
| small villa. / was received by several
officers OF rank, and while We were
waiting for dinner I was ushered ur
stairs to see the King. I entered a
small room, simply furnished. The Kns
chatted with me for half an hour ir
English. Then We had a good but sim
pie dinner. Red wine was served with
It. but the King took none 1t was &c
dark when we motored back that there
was no fear of bombing attack"
Gen. Scriven told Of the work which
is being done by the Italians in Albania
In addition to keeping the Germans ou
they were building roads, erecting
schools and uplifting and feeding thu
inha Misunderstanding on the work o.
civilization as they had previously don,
In Africa.
One Of the greatest lessons ne hat
learned in Italy. he said. was to realfs'
the fighting qualities OF recruits of II
and 10 years. who had. upon being called
to the colors. exhibited the stamina o
veterans
Gen. Guglielmotti said he wanted
Americans to know more OF what 1tal,
: had been doing in the war so that WI
shall better love each other" He de
clared that the Allies were indebted 4
the bravery Of the italian soldiers TO
the holding OF the Teutonic hofdes oil
the Piave and to "the American boys
for checking the rush toward Paris a
the Marine.
Americans Have Confused Enemy
Antonio Stella. president OF the Ro
man Legion. introducing Gen. Server
said that the bravery and dash OF tn
American soldiers had astohished tn
world and confused the enemy" Pres
Ident Wilson, he said. had idealized tn
war aims OF the Allies. and was a ma
whom the whole world Justly adore
. and halls as the spiritual leader of man
kind" He paid tribute to King Victo
. Emmanuel for turning his palaces int
hospitals and for sharing the hardship
-. OF war with his officers and men.
After the speeches the enthusiasm wa
, redoubled when twenty-five America
Red Cross nurses who are on the eve {
leaving for the Italian front wer
marched to the front of the stage an
| tpt