Evening journal., 1918-07-25

Italian troops stood their ground and
turned back the invaders from Italy, on
those celebrated defenses. firmly be-
llevc that that great feat of arms not
only had an objective result OF enor-
nous Importance; believe It has been
OF enormous service to the Italians
themselves. They have come out OF
ithat trial with greater unity with
great self-confldence, and, II possible.
with greater courage than they ever
had before"
Italy has shown her appreciation Of
the lessons and results OF the Piave ac-
ton by the dispatch OF an Italian force
10 France. Her confidence In the real
fly OF lnter-Allied solidarity Is fur
ther confirmed by the arrival OF Amer
lean troops.
Another great event In Italy's history
OF the past year Is the Rome Confer
ence OF representatives OF tn subject
races OF Austria and the resolution
which resulted from the proceedings
there For many months previously,
practically from the time OF the Rus
sian revolution, enemy intriguers and
misled persons In the Allied countries
had been doing their utmost to break
the ties between Italy and France, Eng
land and America by dispsraging cam
paign against the formers war aims.
The principal attack OF these persons
was based on an alleged inconsistency
between the supposed aims OF Italy and
her correspondingly alleged unjust atti-
tude toward the aims Of the Austrian
nationalties This propaganda had a
certain success in that Il led 10 a con-
tinual pickering In sections OF the Al
lied press and a vague, general, mutual
distruct OF each others motives between
Italy and her Allies.
Whether any serious menace TO Al
lied unity would have resulted II IS
dlfncult TO say but at any rate the ltal-
ian parliament, seeing the menace Of
the sltus1Sl, called a conference Of
OF the Czechs. Sloyak,
Rumanian and JugQ-Slav groups now
under Austrian domination. The meet
irSys were neld with the sanction Of the
l ian government. There was a full
and frank discussion OF all the prob
lens Of supposed conflicting aims OF
Italy and the other races represented.
and two very satisfactory results were
achieved. First. Italy recognized the
Justice and right OF the subject races
OF Austria to independence, and second
~. she acknowledged that there was no
conflict between that principle and her
own war aims. These declarations had
a further beneficial effect in strengthen
ing the civilian and military morale OF
Italy and I'm dlspelling the vague cloud
which had appeared to threaten ltal-
ian-Allied relations.
The importance OF the conference is
best summed up by the words OF very
prominent Allied statesman. who said
Italy has shown herself ready 10 eX-
tend 10 the Poles. 10 those gallant
to the Rumanians and
last but not least. to the Jugo-Slavs,
the principles on which her own
'Rlsorgimento" was founded, and on
which she still may go further than she
has ever done in the past. That IS a
great work, and those who have borne
any part in II may be proud OF their ac-
It have always felt that
there was no inconsistency whatever
between the aspirations Of Italy ana
those Of Jugo-Slavsla. Il Is welcome,
not only because II Is just and true, not
only because It increases the cordial
Of the Allies, but also be-
cause u emphasizes and brings more
into clear relief the principle for which
we are fighting"
Economically, the entrance Of the
United States into the war has produced
a much more favorable situation IN
Italy. The closer cooperation In the
operation OF the combined Allied ton
maze and the more scientific ALLEGATION
OF supplies has appreciably relieved the
fuel and food shortage.
Today more than at any time since
Italy's decision TO join the Allies, the
latter owe her confidence. She IS hold
Ing practically the entire Austro-Hun-
yarlan army on her front, an achieve