The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-27
HUGHES SAYS ITALY
SAVED ALL LIBERTY
Daniels Also Praises Part
Taken by Peninsula in
World War.
la GUARDIA GIVES FACTS
1taly-America Society Has
Rousing Meeting i'm Metro
politan Opera House.

housing Meeting In Metro
politan Opera House.
Eloquent testimony to the vital part
played by italy in the war was given
IN the Metropolitan Opera House yes
terday afternoon by Secretary of the
Navy Daniels and by Charles E. Hughes
at the gala celebration held as an
American tribute to Italy under the
auspices Of the 1taly-Anrerica Society.
Mr. Hughes. who is president OF the
society, evoked a storm OF applause
from the big audience of men and
women notable In the life OF both coun-
tries by declaring that had not Italy
entered the war liberty would have
been slain before America. her natural
defender, had awakened to her duty"
Secretary Daniels was equally eager to
point out, the share OF Italy in the con-
hict. In particular he expressed the
debt Of gratitude which our navy owes
to Italian naval constructors.
IT wish to-day" Secretary Daniels
said, ito express the obligations which
this republic. which the people of every
nation feel particularly to the naval
constructors OF Italy for the contribu-
tions they have made. which have
revolutionized naval warfare. Every
nation 10 interested deeply In the naval
studies, In plans and developments OF
every other nation. and wish to say
to you that the men OF our navy do not
look to any country for daring achieve
ment and new methods and ideals more
than they do the naval constructors OF
Italy.
Thanks to Navy OF Italy.
''I wish to pay tribute to Cuniberti,
the great italian naval constructor, who
was responsible for the all big gun ship,
the mother OF modern dreadnoughts, and
to other daring men Of vision who gave
us the three turret ship. which America
has copied and for which II gives thanks
to the navy Of Italy.
81 am sure that no gift which came
from the generous people of Italy meant
moro to our President than when Cap
roni gave him the White Eagle and said
Y give 1t to you because America stands
high in the atmosphere OF everything
that makes for good But. IL we pay
tribute to Caproni and his fellows. II
Marconi and mis- associates, to the naval
constructors who with an audacious ge-
MUS have changed the method OF naval
construction, what shall we say OF the
daring and the audacity and the success
of the personnel OF the Italian navy?
There Jay in the safe harbor OF Pola
the most magnificent dreadnought of the
Austrian navy. every barrier which ma
val ingenuity could build about It. every
enlargement. every mine and every net
seemed to make It as safe as II there
were no war. But there were in Italy
two naval officers. Engineer Ceti and
Lieut.. Peiucci names that will never die
IN the annals OF brave men. love to
think and to think with pride-and with
some envy because they were not Amer
3cans-that in the annals OF this war
and OF all wars no two men ever accom-
pltshed more audacious deeds than these
two great naval officers.
Plans Laid for Brave Deed.
you recall the story that thrills
every red blooded man in the world
how these men constructed a tiny ship.
IT was swift 1t was small-so small
II could not take on its passengers :. how
In the darkness of the night It stole out
beyond the destroyers, escaping the
mines.
These two men, in watertlght uni
forms, swan behind II and steered it's
course until near the great monster and
then taking out their clicked bombs
swan to the side OF the ship and fas-
tened their weapons, and then when thew
were captured and taken on deck after
the time exposure had made It impossi-
Die TO save the ship these two officers
told the Austrian Captain what, they
had done. with the chivalry of brave
men not to lose any lives unnecessarily
1T has been said that those qualities
which we are proud to believe are
American and which distinguish us
from other nations and the composites
OF the great nations of Europe which
have come to the New World II this
be true, and IL, as some claim, We owe
this particular quality to that nation
and this particular quality to the other
nation. believe that the quality OF in.
itiative. Of daring. and audacity. which
Americans love to think inheres In them
was impaired To US by that great nation
which, since the Caesars. has been al
powerful on the Mediterranean"
The Secretary referred with a light ant
ektmming touch TO Italy's claims to thu
Adriatic littoral, converting what nigh
have been an embarrassing phase of tn,
peace settlement into an occasion 70!
friendly laughter from his Italian audi
tors with an anecdote OF President viii
fon's visit to Turin. On this occasion
Secretary Daniels said. when sonninc
pressed the principle that Italy SHOULD
govern all italian populations, the Pres
jdent answered him:
Il am very sorry that We cannot asre,
for you to govern the city Of New York
for I am informed II Is the largest Ital
ian city in the world
Noted italians Send Greetings.
Besides expressions of good will from
Premier Sonnino. Count Macohi di Gel
lere, italian Ambassador to the United
States. and Gen. Diaz of the Italian
army. MI Hughes read this cablegran
from Paris sent by President Wilson:
TT is with special pleasure that
avail myself Of this opportunity to sent
. greeting to the Italy America Societ,
gathered to commemorate the deeds o.
vaIor of the Italian army and the impor
tant role which II has played In tn,
final success. The cordial and spontane
GUS welcome given me by the Italian ma
lion three weeks ago touched me pro
foundly and l am sure ! rightly inter
pref II as a manifestation OF sympath,
from the italian people TO the people o
the United States"
Address By Justice Hughes.
at was tho high privilege OF each o
the Allies" said Justice Hughes. II,
meet ono or more critical tests. and vic
tory leaves us united in an abiding
sense OF mutual obligation. Franc,
snatched victory from the grasp OF tn,
inrushing hordes at the battle OF tn
Marine. Great Britain maintained tn,
British tradition In the swamps abou
Ypres. Again. Italy saved the cause o
liberty by entering the war. thus de