The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1920-12-15
RECONSTRUCTION N
ITALY IS INTENSE
War Front, Devastated When
Great Armies contended For
Position, Is Fast Being
Transformed

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osssador. Robers Underwood John
son, who has returned from a visit
to the Piaye, Isonzo and .isiazo sec
tors OF the Italian war front. includ
ing much OF the devastated region
declares that the Italians are pro
gressing web in their efforts TO make
these war areas again fis for hahi-
tation.
Il doubt whether any other Yegion
OF the war would make bet.nr
showing OF recuperation. said Mr..
johnson TO The Associated Press
correspondent.
In April saw the devastated re-
gions of France from Chass au Tlsier-
ry TO Rheims. an awful sight which
may be commended TO these who arc
willing 10 take the risk OF another
great war. Save for tho few bar
racks and isolated pieces OF repair
little had been done to rebuild.
To-day in the midst OF equal de-
yasta,ion, there is hardly town in
Italy in which 20 per cent of The
houses have not beefr renewed or
repaired for occupancy. and tine pro-
portion is fully from 80 4, 80 per
cent. The refugees. most Of them
still living in the government bar
racks. are hard at work. New
houses on handsome lsalian models
are going up every week. The sec
ond story may have been DESTROYED,
but II the first has wallis. it is
roofed and made habitable for the
time
THE courage and resouro oefulness
OF war time Was not greater than
is that OF peace. and bo call for
ihe admiration OF she world. This
needs TO be accentuated because
Italy has had so much TO contend
with first in the failure of this
years crops of wheat and corn, next.
from the cloudbursts and floods and
third, from The disturbing industrial
conditions. Fortunately tie season
has been good for Building, for
every man in Ff7iile seems to have
become a carpenter or mason. Stin.
this region. with all the aid to re-
construction that the government can
give. faces winter Of hardship and
severe cold
The people OF Trieste are not only
brave and industrious. but gentle
and courteous. and like r.ost ltu-
ians. they respond to treatment We
saw no evidence OF current violence.
which indeed is not directed against
travellers. but is either industrial or
political and is local.
THE machinery for silk and cot
ton manufacture was all carried oil
by the Austrians.
Most OF the inhabitants have had
to begin at the bottom. but they are
used to the conflict of nature. and
with fairly normal conditions. and a
good harvest or two. the region will
be well restored"
Ambassador Johnson compared the
Italian battlefield on the Iarso, with
the fields of famous battles Of
the American Civil war. a.itf declared
that nothing at bloody Gettysburg
was more difficult than tbs assault
by which the Italians w0l podgora
the precipicc. TOO feet nigh, which
commanded Gorilla. and with ii that
important town. ''The revls Den
on the Union left ct Gettysburg Is
not 10 be mentioned with these Bad
Lands that form so strong a de-
Tense OF Trieste" he added.
Let 1t not be forgotten that the
italians held front OF 42o miles.
that they lost half million killed
and million and half worrded and
that they held million srd hasf
OF lAusta-ians from reinforcing the
western line"