Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-04
American Red Gross
Workers Hsarten
People Of Italy

Correspondence Associated Press.]
Headquarters Italian Army, May is.
-Thruout Italy and particularly in th.s
section near the fighting front, tha
work of American relief accomplished
by American Red Cross workers has
served as a medium foc stirring the
spirit of resistance among the people
and soldiers. 1t has contributed toward
Keeping them heartened for the trials
OF the war and letting know that AM
erica was united with them in 1t.
1t is work going on all over Italy
but. here near the front it deals with
actual lighting conditions. in a belt OF
country lying just back Of the fighting
line, with masses of troops billeted In
towns, villages and country districts.
and q vast wave Of refugees, swept
south and west from the invaded reg
ions, settling down with all their mis-
cry like swarm Of locusts on the local
communities.
In such a section the work is some
thing more than one Of relief, for while
5000 900 has been distributed in this
one section yet the main purpose has
been to stimulate and hearten the spirit
of the peasantry, to arouse their ardor
and support for the men on the fighting
line, and to let them know that Am
Alica and all her resources are with
them to the end.
The provinces of Treviso, Venetia
and Padua lie just back of the Piave
and mountain fighting fronts. Treviso
province is on the border line, with half
it's communes occupied by the enemy
and half by the Italians, and the Pave
running between the two severed parts
of the province. Every one of the
thirty eight Trevise communes re-
manning under italian control have
been visited by the American Red Cross
workers; the 103 communes of Padua
province have been similarly visited,
and some seventy-fve communes IN
Venetia province,
Stirring scenes have been witnessed
in these country districts as the Am
erican workers have carried on their
work, under the general direction OF
Captain Thwaits, in charge Of civilian
relief in the war zone. At Este. for
example, a public holiday was decreed
IlC LCWH WAS fpldCG1IoCo Will pOosSAS
announcing that "the Americans are
coming" school children and the mayor
gave dinner with speeches. The same
wave Of appreciation and enthusiasm
has spfeaa everywhere. until the wioie
region rings with what the Americans
are doing.
The tour today lay due north to
the very margin of the fighting country
and one could see side by side the stir
of intense military preparation the
spring awakening Of a great agricult-
ural region and the squalid misery OF
the unfortunate mass swept out OF the
invaded region and settled down here
unableto get any further. On the right
was the Piave river with the ,defenses
on the heights Of Asole and the Mont
clio region, and ahead was the snow
covered peak OF Mount Grappa and
its line Of mountain defenses stretch
ing west to the Brenta river.
The signs Of military preparation and
defense were on every hand. even at
this distance ten OF fifteen miles back
of the actual fighting line, for every
thing is prepared ahead for the pos
stble eventuality OF, the conflict surg
ing down into this peaceful plain.
Squads OF army engineers were at all
the bridges, digging deep pits for mines
to blow up these structures and block
the advance Of the enemy.
Sentinels were on guard every hund-
red feet along the Brenta canal guard
ing this precious artery Of communica-
ton. Across the fields new trenches
were being dug up, so that the farm
country was gradually taking >on the
aspect OF an armed camp. Barbed wire
entanglements criss- crossed the fields.
Some Of the emnlacements for batteries
and machine guns looked very solid and
might we'll serve as permanent forti-
fcation. Soldiers marched along the
roads in endless lines, with great parks
OF horses, mules, ammunition and sup
plies and all the village streets were
thick with soldiers and the mixture of
ragged land impoverished refugees. At
all the places visited there was the
same procedure; the important Of
fcials and citizens of the town we're
gathered for a conference on the COM
needs-the mayor, assessor
head school teacher. and the parish
priest. They furnished the exact statis-
tics of families in need, conducting the
party to the chief centers Of distress
when this was possible, and then the
Red Cross started them on plan OF
relief work, with substantial contri-
button, according to the need.
ut is not only the donation that
counts" explained Captain Thwaits.
for that is only token Of the solidar-
ity Of Italy and the United States, and
an assurance to your people and SOL
diers that America Is with them to the
end. We want 1t to be contribution
to strengthen the spirit Of resistance
of every soldier and every worker~be
hind the lines"
"YANKs" HUNGRY IN BATTLE.
Fight Three Days at cantiony With