The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-02-22
DAMAGE WROUGHT
BY FOE IN ITALY
Wanton Destruction and PiIIaue
Revealed in Report.
FOR WHICH HUN MUST PAY

Oppression inflicted Wherever En-
amy Set His Foot-Facts Gathered
BY italian Committee surpass Any
thing Hitherto Believed Possible
Exceeds In Atrocity Destruction
Suffered by France and Belgium.
Especial to the Italian-American News
Bureau. Chicago.)
The committee appointed to inves-
tigate the violations of right perpe-
trated in Italy, and the inhuman
treatment of prisoners of war has
made Its first report.
The material to be considered is
vast, and the preliminaries disclose
the enormous damage done by the
enemy wherever he set foot In this
country. The losses due to airplane
bombing and bombardment along the
coast, already gathered by the mill.
tary governors and placed on file,
and Of the nonmilitary buildings de-
stroyed or damaged are receiving first
attentions
The public has received fragmen.
tnry news Of what was done. The
reality surpasses anything hitherto be-
lieved possible. It is the result OF
. systematic system of cruelty and
oppression intended to intimidate or
massacre the Inhabitants.
= AT the same time steps were being
taken to get all data about the loss
Of shipping due to submarine war
fare. 1t IL estimated already that
the italian merchant navy has lost
100000 tons Of shipping, both of sail
ing and steam vessels.
Heavy Loss In Vessels.
The value Of the cargoes sunk is
huge, and includes Italian shipments
By foreign as well as by italian yes
sells. A rough estimate places 1t al
4 billion lire. The responsibility OF
Germany has been established clearly
especially when 1t comes to shipping
belonging to neutrals or allied coun
tries. carrying Italian cargoes~ and
frequently also the Italian ships
whenever the submarines did not
show their colors before attacking.
The devastation OF the invaded
parts OF Italy exceeds perhaps in
atrocity and intensity the analogous
destruction suffered by Belgium and
French departments. For this cir
cumstance which must be set forth
In strong relief there were several
causes: The density Of the most &C
live Industrial life; the highly devel
cped intensive agriculture. and The
raising Of every ktnd Of domestic AMI
NAL on q large scale.
In an area smaller than one-ffteenti
o. Belgium, there was a laborious ant
moderately wealthy people. about one
sixth Of that Of the whole Of Belgium
workshops gave employment ant
wealth to every village. Villas ant
stately palaces with priceless collec
Hons OF art and important libraries
graced the countryside and cities.
AZ the beginning OF the invasion
the German soldiery wanted the frs
fruits Of ptllage, and, from the ties
timony gathered, the other troops were
prevented from giving way to ex
Gees In order to let the German lead
efs and soldiers have the first picl
g what was worth carrying Off. Thus
when the Germans left Italy. the Aus
TRANS followed In their footsteps ant
redoubled their acts Of oppression
and barbarity to give vent to theil
insensate and often deluded rapacity
The depredations fell on the poo
a well a. the wealthy. Articles O.
sven the slightest value were the OBJ
jects Of their cupidity. No house es
capped the iron hand Of the invader
All household linen was carried of
without pity. Sheets and mattresse!
were torn from the sick and bed
ridden. and every sign of resistance
was met with inhuman cruelty.
The victuals. even in the poores
houses. were carried OF. ven to thu
tables around which the families gath
cred to eat their miserable food.
Food Carried From Tables.
In the country besides the damag'
done to every crop. a complete dew
astation was wrought. cutting dowr
vines and fruit trees purely from wan
ton savagery, or for the firewood th,
enemy needed. Thus one of tn
sources Of agricultural wealth 70
centuries was destroyed.
An metals, az has been related
were the special objects of cupidit.
and we're taken without the least pre-
text Of legality. The number OF bell
taken from the churches Is estimated
Ct 1900. It gives an idea Of thu
extent and thoroughness Of the pill
lnse committed In private houses an,
public buildings.
The ~sanctity Of sacred places wa
no9 respected. In almost all tn,
ehnfches religious paraphernaIIa wer'
Dtolen with sacred vestments and al
t1cio6 used In worship. often Of great
~ hlstoric or artistic value.
Gees Son on Screen.
ssIhere he Is; there's John Y shout
- Mn. John Hughes. who with he,
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