Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-05-25
PERSONAL AND SOCIAL NEWS OF INTENSE INTEREST 1U S.
u. S. SOLDIERS
NITALY SOON.
SAYS BAKER
His Statement Cheered at the
Italy-America Celebra-
ton in New York

New York, May 25.-American SOL
alers. soon VIII be lighting on the
italian battlefront.
Secretary of War Newton D. Baker
so predicted before 5000 persons at
celebration in the Metropolitan
Opera House of the third anniver-
sary of Italy's entrance into the war.
Mr.. Baker said the American Army
already has in Italy "a large and
important staff of experts, who are
studying italian methods of war
fare" and "a substantial number of
our Army's sanitary corps"
But" declared Mr.. Baker, "I see,
and in the no distant future, Amer
ican infantry American machine gun
units and American artillery shoulder
to shoulder with the Italians on their
front line"
Flag to BE Sent to Italy
Another intimation of the early
presence of American troops in Italy
came when, after the conclusion of
his speech, Mr.. Baker. in accepting
an American flag presented to him
by an Italian organization, said:
ut will give me pleasure PERSONAL
ly to place it (the flag) in the hands
of the f1agbearer of the first military
contingent of the United States which
leaves to join the Italian army on
the Italian front. 1 shall regret
when this flag leaves me that I am
not to be privileged to see it break
to the breezes on the Alpine from
tier"
Every reference to the union of
American and Italian soldiers on the
battlefront was received with re-
sounding applause. The celebration
was given by the Italy-America So
ciety. and the majority of the au-
dience, which was assembled to hear
singing by almost all the Italian
members of the Metropolitan Opera
Company, were Italians or of Italian
parentage. The italian Ambassador.
Count Macchi di Cellere, was among
the speakers.
Charles E. Hughes, president of the
society, who walked on the stage in
company with Mr.. Baker struck a
chord of response when he said, 1--WE
do not want anything done that
sound military advice would oppose,
but l should express the hope, which
I know is shared by the people of
Italy, that some day in the not far
off future, American soldiers shall
tread the soil of Italy, bearing our
banners with theirs"
Mr.. Baker had prepared his speech
before leaving Washington, but on
learning, after his arrival in New
York, of the sinking of the trans
port Moldavia he referred to the diff
ficulty which beset the sending o.
American troops to Europe.
THE American Army must travel
5000 miles across the sea-" he said.
l"It has to court dangers which are
peculiar to this war. Even tonight
L learn that transport carrying
soldiers has been lost, but, ! am
happy to tell you, with but slight
loss of life. AS yet, 1 don't know
how great but it is said to be Slight.
And that message called very vividly
to my, mind the picture of that sub
marine-infested sea as the American
sailor and the American soldier must
face it."
But, Mr.. Baker declared, the sub
marine is becoming less a menace
'It fills me with happiness" he said
ito be able to say with confidence
and assurance that the submarine is
growing less and less a peril of the
deep; that We are mastering that
viper by the ingenuity of our
sailors"