The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-07-09
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he called into play much of the tact
and impartiality which are still two
of his distinguishing traits.
Won RenOwn In Libyan
During the Libyan Campaign he
served in the field as Colonel of the
93d Regiment of infantry. 1t was the
Battle of Zanzur (June Sth, 1912 that
he proved his quality as a commander
of sharp decision. The main Italian
positions had been assailed by the
Fanatical Arabs in sin successive
waves and the troops were in immi-
nent danger of giving way. 1t was
then that Colonel Diaz, posted on the
left with his regiment, delivered an
impetuous bayonet charge upon the
right flank of the enemy, throwing
him into confusion and carrying the
day for the Italians. Colonel Diaz
was also present at the second bat
tie of Zanzur, 1t was these two great
actions, the most important of the
Libyan war, that decided the issue
and after the second victory peace
was signed by Turkey within a month.
At the beginning of the present war
General Diaz was head of the Office of
Operations at the Supreme Command.
He showed himself such an excellent
organizer with so much directing gen.
ius that he was naturally in line for
the chief commandership when the
disaster in the mountains necessitated
change of leaders.
Fought Way Across The CarSO
Before this however he held COM
mand of the Eighteenth Army Corps
of the Third Army, including the ia
nous Brigade of Greadier-Guards and
the LARA Brigade, which so distin-
guished themselves on the Carso The
Carso is a high and desolate plateau
between Gorilla and the Adriatic Sea.
BY the middle of last summer the It
alians under General Diaz had forced
their lines half way across it in the
direction of Trieste. The fighting be-
came very fierce at the little village
Of Selo and at the Dosso Faiti,
strong position which formed a bas-
ton for the Austrian right fiark But
Diaz' men in repeated and Precious
drives took both places. They were
holding them when the detection of
part of the Second Army far to the
north of the mforced a rectreat of the
whole line right back and down to.
the plains of Veneta.
General Diaz is described as eX-
tremely likable by all who know him.
He is somewhat under medium height
and rather dark, with black hair and
cropped mustache now turning to
gray, He is a constant smoker but
his manner strikes the observer as
calm and even contemplative except
when he is issuing orders when he
becomes most incisive and direct.
However he is not a great talker and
is known as a man of few words and
those concise and meaty. His brain
seems to be both analytic and syn
thetic, for he not only knows how to
plan with the greatest elaboration but
has the faculty of getting his orders
executed at once and down to the last
detail. Like General-issimo Foch he
believes firmly in the offensive and,
holds that no army which is not ag-
gressve at the right moment can
hope to win.
Since the Battle of the Piave Cen
eral Diaz has already been advanced
seventy numbers. However it is al
most certain that he will be raised
from Lieutenant General to the posi-
ton of Generate d'Esereito,." There
are at present only two men in Italy
holding that rank. One is the King
and the other Is General Caneva who
commanded the Italian armies during
the Libyan war