Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-11
e,[su'at''H lTsu'as saturday ays5y 1886
MONDAY, NOVEMBER IL, 1918
Italians. Joy Over Victory.

To possibly nobody except the Bel
eians does the defeat of the Teutons mean
SO much as II docs to the Italians. and
the demonstration. Friday night, IN
celebration of the crushing defeat, rout,
humiliation and practical destruction of
the dual monarchy vlsuahzcd rs we'll rs
yocazcd the JOY and gratitude of Italian
citizens over the fact that italNs he
reditarv foe has been crushed
And the Italians have real occasion to
pause and return most rcvercnt thanks
that her leaders wcrc guided by the true
light when. after great hesitation and
doubt. the nation dropped out 81 the
Triple tlhance and cast hcr 10, with the
Entente nations Il was a bold stroke
on the part Of Italy, because she was un-
prepared for war and AUSTRIA was arm
cd and mohihzcd ready 10 spring and
rcnd her in pieces
Ii Italy hcSitatcd i was not because
shc was not Al heart for the cause of
democracy TO make the world fiji to
live in. as President Wilson expressed
Cd her country would hc invaded, over
nm and laid waste before her armIcs
we're prepared t. - On the defense line
Now VIC recall. too. how nearly Italy
lost oui III the earlier day nf he war and
how great Was the attendant fear that
her defeat would turn the tide Of war 10
the hsrbarians Through subtle ally |
oi tie Central European Powers the |
Itaians were at one time in state of Ut
ter decentralization, the morale of the
srmy gone, and the soldiers listening %
the wooing. soft voices Of pacifists were
ready to lay down their arms, But they
were guided alright. saw they had been
bcguilcd by false friend and turned
back TO war
From that time the Italians lave writ
ten their names big IN the history oi
lighting No other troops have fought
against bigger odds nor maintained 4
more solid front to the foe Their chief
battlefield in the later decisive operations
was in the Alps tsr above the sea level.
IN Arctic c,,Id and SHOWS that mounted
10 the shoulders and would have barred
the path 10 any but ono Of lcsolut, war
l1ors determined 10 save lhelr beloved
country from the Huns
Italy played her part well and great
has been her reward BY the terms OF
peace She will have restored the fertile
square miles snatched from her by Austria.
and she will henceforth be delivered from
all fear OF INVASION. for there NI be no
more foes to threaten her existence a>
mas the Austrian Iackal Tor decades and |
decades She need never lear dlsmember- /
ment, but restored ana whole she Will I
never again be called to defend beT borders |
unless. indeed, the present war has /
been fought II vaIn which Is not tho. ease !
Never again need she fear the los oi her |
national power. or outside interference |
with her governmental affairs All those !
iears arc past and Italy crcrgeS from the /
Armageddon conscious Of having played /!
her full part and shown To the world that |
as a race her people are not degcneratmc /
nor as nation i. Italy eIete \ new |
day has daWned Tor the sunny nation By I
the MEDITERRANEAN. her hour Of PICS
perity Is striking and the work OF her /.
earlier heroes n length is shown not to
have been IN VAN
No wonder that III parade, her sors |!
fHing embems Of green, white and red .
with the crown surmountng tho cross III /
the white field. were enthusiastic in hc I
manifestations OF their JOY, for then Ic-
!oiclnG was genuine, sincere and from
the heart Of a people who are truly pa
triotic
Italian women and girls paraded with
the men and boys Every face bear1ed
nth delight, every heart was overflow
ing with gratitude as they marched and
cheered, proud Of the achievements Of
their brave men who had conquered
foe which had threatened the destruction
OF their glorious Rome and their beloved
Venice. 1t was an interesting pageant
Tor i revealed that now We know our Ita-
ian feilow-citizens better than ever be-
fore know their mettic. their purposes
and ideals And they understand the
American as they never have before
they regard them now as brethren
We share the Italians pride in his
war record and wish him renewed pros
perty and happiness IN the New World
which his illuStrious ancestor discovered
and wherein were sown the first seeds of
liberty which have leavened the world