The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-01-08
DRAMATIC DAYS
HAP PSBURGS fall
Harry Evans Saw Close Of Mar In
ItaIy-An Epoch in Human History
Second Only to Fall of Rome
THE, CLOUDS LIFT FROM ITALY

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1.-THE, CLOUDS LIFT FROM ITALY
Great Joy When Hand Of Doom Fell
Upon the Austrian Empire-Akin
to Great Religious Festival
4 BY H. c. Evans.
/ WITH THE AMERICAN TROOPS
i'm ITALY, Nov. 21-As near as the
human eye can see the downfall OF
a nation. saw Austria fall.
| Tie dissolution of the Austrian en-
pire is an epoch in human history, sec.
ond, perhaps, only to the fall OF the
Roman empire, and the discovery OF
1America. 1t certainly ranks In i'm
iportance with the French revolution
and the overthrow of the Russian mon
Iarchy. For six and half centuries
1.-THE House of ,Hapsburg has reigned.
The empire, which before the war was
26O, 900 square miles of territory, and
more than half centuries the House OF
Hapsburg states, has broken up into
at least three independent nations,
while four other important parts OF
1.-THE old empire are attached to exist
ing nations.
A Czecho-Slovak republic Is formed
of Bohemia, Morayia and part Of Hun
gary.
A republic is formed OF Central Hun
gary.
German Austria establishes a separ-
late republic.
+ Serbia gets Bosnia, Crotia, Slavonia
and part of Hungary. These form q
separate state attached to Serbia and
become pro-ally.
Rumania gets southeastern Hun.
gary.
Austrian Poland has joined Poland.
The three Italian provinces, SO long
lheld in bondage, will return to the
Italian fold.
Cloud Lifts From Italy.
\ The folk at home cannot compre.
ihend the dark cloud that has hung ov.
| er italy like a paH for the past year
From the Brenta to the sea stretched
the battle line, behind which. lay the
army of the foe, with all the power OF
one of the oldest monarchies OF
Europe. For four months have lived
along that battle front. Just across il
land in Austrian lands were thousands
fof Italian homes and tens of y izxssf
tsands OF Italian soldiers
| The great menace is a thing OF the
past. The terror that has long en-.
shaved Italians has vanished forever
"A nation is suddenly set free. The fu-
Iture opens to Italy like the red dawn
Of new day. Her lost provinces are
RESTORED. The immutable law Of race
land blood is again in force.
| NV interpreter, an Italian soldier
wholost an arm two years ago in bat
tie, asked for leave today to goto his
old home, 40 miles north ofgthe Piave
! to search for his mother. He has not
heard from or of her for twelve
months.
And Then What Transformation
With the. same suddenness that the
hand of doom fell upon the Austrian
empire came the glad tidings OF great
ljoy to Italy. Never have 4 witnessed
such ecstatic joy among q people. 1t
was something akin to great relig-
ious festival, pentacostal In scope and
effect, wherein young men see visions
and old men dream dreams. Men sa-
| lutte each other with a kiss on the
cheek and an embrace. They shout
their JOY to the housetops and sing
|halleluiahs. Women and children Join
hands and swing through the streets
singing in delirious joy. Americans
are picked up bodily and carried on
the shoulders Of the people amidst
shouts of "Vive la Americana" The
dark cloud in the north has disap-
peared. The Menace is gone. Men
are free; women no longer fear; chill
dren once more sing and play un-
afraid.
The preparation for the offensive
had been long and sometimes we fear
ed the blow would not be struck. All
fall the public highways were jammed
with soldiers, guns, munitions, pom
toon bridges and every other conceiy-
able sort of warfare material, moving
toward the front The splendid Brit
ish divisions were brought down from
the mountains and camped for week
at Treviso, seven miels south Of Piave,
with the U. S. troops. Then came the
eventful day when the British broke
camp and started for the river, Up
to within the three days previous our
boys held the front line trenches at
the point where the pontoon bridge
was to be laid, and they had believed
and hoped they would lead the attack,
crossing first. But they were denied
this honor, it being given to the four
year British veterans, with our boys
held in reserve to support them.
Americans Envious
As the English marched out of Tre-
viso for the river, on that history max
ing adventure, every American knew
they would cross. Also every Ameri.
can was swearing mad because he
could not accompany the brave Tom;
mics. 1t was one of those intense
moments when a man simply wants
to strike the monster that turks just
beyond the river.
Soon the British were beyond our
vision. and gradually the camp quieted
down until men spoke only in whis-
pers. We were listening for the rattle
|of artillery and machine guns we
knew the British must pass through
'as they crossed the bridge. Would
they, could they. endure it? Soon it
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