Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-18
NEW BOOKS ON
THE GREAT VAR
Ambassador\ Page Tells OF
ItuIy's Part-Ludendorf or
the High Command


.srsdor Of the United states to the
Quirlr Il. distinguished novelist ana
man of affairs, tells for the first time
comprehensively and authoritatiVciS
the narrative of Italian participation III
the great war. He calls his important
volume "Italy and the World War.
The heroic and effective role OF Italy
has not been expatated upon in any
book hitherto published in this country
The subject is one of which most
Americans are rather ignorant. Yet
Italy played a most conspicuous part
and deserves the greatest credit In the
summing up of victory. The break Oh
the Quirinal with the Triple Alliance,
delayed till the spring of 1915, the dis
aster of 1917 at Caporctto and the
final magnificent stand on the Piavc,
which forced the Austrian commanders
TO seek q truce with Marshal Diah
nearly n month before Hindenburg was
reduced to ask armistice terms OF Mar
sbnl Foch on November IL, 191S--these
represent about oil the facts that out
stand in American consciousness ot
Italy's participation. Ambassador
Page, however, shows that there was
much more. His official status and
his ready sympathy with Italian cul-
ture and ideals have made him pc
culinrly well equipped to write this
book, His first hand knowledge en-
ables him to interpret many OF the
secret or private matters which arc
bound up in the subject. Italy's earlier
neutrality is Il subject on which many
persons are uniformed; Mr.. Page tells
the full story of it. He absolyes Italian
craftsmanship from the once frequently
made charge of interestedness. MT.
Pages book is written in a singularly
clear and charming style.
Another phase ef Italy's war record
Is contained in '"The Story OF the
American Red Cross in Italy, Charles
NJ, Bakewc,l. a member Of the commits
sion. tells how the American Red Cross
made quick and effective response to
the needs Of Italy in the distress that
| followed hard on the heels of the Capo =
retto disaster. During the Italian cam :
| paigns, when not only the major part
of Austria's and Hungary's electives
| were launched, but also many trained
crack divisions of the German army,
| the American Red Cross performed yeo-
man service. Entire cities were built
for the accommodation Of refugees from
the Piave regions and from Vepetia,
while the enemy advanced toward the
heart Of Italy. The story Of this super
human work is capitally told. There IL
also an abundance of material relating
| to the establishment of relief centers,
canteens, asylums for women and chill
dren, large hospitals for those wounded
in the field, and medical centers fol
juvenile and civilian relief.
F. A. Holt has translated "The Gen
eral Staff and It's Problcms,' biz
two volume work by General Won Lu'
dendorff, which is of unique nature ant
value. 1t is not personal record OF
history, written after the war, but 9
collection Of official documents, which
not only cover the actual period of the
World War, but 20 back into the years
of preparation as far as 1909. Thi!
collection of secret, confidential, candle
and portcntous communications throws
light that nothing else could upoi
the most important events Of the con
fiict and upon Germany's final defeat
No personal apology, memoir, attemp
the unvarnishcd presentation Of world
|
book bears the subtitle, ''The Histor!
of the Relations Between the Higf
Command and the German Impcria
Government as Revealed by Officia
Documents.
Among the original and contemporar!
documents included are the report of tn,
conference between Bethmann. Hollweg
Hindenburg and Ludendorff at Plcss
when the unrestricted submarine cam
paign was finally decided upon and th
violent letters exchanged between th
chancellor, Hindenburg, Ludendorff an,
the Foreign Office, revealing the inter
nal difficulties of Germany in 1915. Th
matter of American participation, a
, the German authoritiesRicweda and dis
cusscd it, is gone into thoroughly. TIL
collection contains the program of tn
German military authorities on sue
, important subjects as the food question
> the coal and transport question, tn
: production Of nitrogen, mercantile shin
, building. schemes for helping soldier
| and sailors during and after the war
for patriotic instruction to the troops
v for the handling of the press and for tn
supplying of information to the public
Moreover, the suggestions and direction
issued by Ludendorf show plainl
that throughout the latter part OF tn
: war he was the real dictator of Ger
many.
! In his preface he states that whel
= he published his earlier book, my Wa
Memories, he had already determine
to make public RECORDS bearing on tn
subject, in order to enlighten the worl
as to the thoughts and actions of tn
supreme command, It's sphere of labo
and dealings with the imperial chan
! cellor' and with the further object o
I bringing home ''to every German tina
, n peace of understanding was unattain
, able" and OF revealing "how much wa
kept secret from the supreme comman,
by the imperial government"
, ITALY AND THE WORLD WAR a
Thomas Nelson Page. New York. Cha ris
THE ossToRY oF THE AMERICAN RE,
CROSS IN ITALY. Hy Charles II, BaE,
well; New NS,vI, York; The Macmillan Co. '''"'
Il LENS, ny General Ludendorn. Ne,
Il Ill., 90 8,