El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1921-01-05

ITALY has been through an extraordinary experience and
has out Of it with honor that the world should not
withhold The final solution Of the dAnHunzO and Fiume
problem good faith and with little boodshed Is re
arabs proof Of the underlying good Of the Italian
people and the essential stability Of the government This
true spite Of the fact that many things about the en-
episode the average American TO be the anhe-
sis Of good sense and Of stability.
VIII be recalled that at the outbreak Of the great var
Italy was member Of the triple alliance with Germany
and Austa-Hungary. Both Of the central empires had
powerful standing in Italy and had vel organized propa
Eanda forces The central empires insisted that Italy must
Join with then, but the Italian government took the stand
that the aggressive not defensive and refused to
Itavs neutrality was undoubtedly influenced by the
direct threats made BY Great Britain and France that Italy
would be bockaded and attacked BY sea she joined Ger
many and Austria Italy IS exceedingly Vulnerable on the
Mediterranean and she is also economically dependent
The central empires offered italy much important term
oral gain she would Join them Itays claims Of long
standing 10 Austrian territory to the north and the
Adratic broad, but Austria ready substantially
to coucede them The temptation was great but Italys
rear vas greater ana Wnen ne aes offered 70 naek 1ay
in her large territorial ambitions neutrality to
end and Italy cast in her lot with the allies
At the time American sentiment generally adverse
to Italy since her action appeared be dictated solely by
territorial ambitions and not to be influenced BY any
broader consideration II H unnecessary to into this
question now but should Be emphasized that Ia ter
tora claims had and true patriotic basis
than are generally credited.
Italy fought splendid war With her limited resources
she strained herself to the utmost She modified several
million men and undertook an aggressive war On large
scale. No part Of the long front the field Of more
IN the war # there be- than the Italian
front The entire world stirred again and again by the
Of the auscendent heoism Of the Italian troops
In the Alps and IL the marshes.
Italy suffered tremendous losses but she virtually put
Austria Of the and sssened the task Of the other
allies BY reducing the effective enemy power on the
western front and narrowing the field Of action which
the other allies were responsible. Italy received material
aid but any troops TO speak Of from the other allies
Italy claims have ended the war when she defeated
the Austrian army and took 100000 prisoners Italy claims
that this the only instance in the in which
7nra7 TL- 4~ar- -7nrrurr
During the the people stood by the government with
more than usual uHanimty- But sooner had the war
ended than all the dsrupve forces began to assert them
selves Socialism and communism had already made great
haadway What Is known Young Italy the radical pot-
zeal elements largely Of the younger generation strong
the army and flushed with military glory. When the
sent failed To GET what II wanted At Paris the gov
eminent fell Young Italy demanded its pound Of flesh
and no excuses arguments vent far
italy did not demohilizs her army. terrific feud
started between extreme radical labor and agaran ee
msut demanding dsmobilizaton and political radicals Of
different type demanding var against the allies for fun
territorial sas1acton me army and the navy were split
vide open and state Of muy, less latent, pre-
vailed The government was poweress and practically ad-
mitted It.
ne writer Of this happened 70 be IN Italy when dan
uunzio seized Fume It interesting to observe the
attitude Of the people generally and to read the comments
Of the press Open rebellion did not to create much
STIR Even the government press generally conservative
spoke the most restrained way about the outbreak Many
curious things happened typical instance: One night IN
Turin major formed his battalion and Informed his men
that he going to JOIN dAnnuuz0; he asked how many
would Ike join him Most assented He seized railroad
and locomotive, loaded his battalion and vent
eral hundred niles italy without interference and
offered his battalion to the rebel
TINS sort Of thing common. Not only individual
officers and men IN large numbers deserted army and navy
join dAnnunEo IN Fiue, but entire units Of the army
ard ships With their personnel went over to him These
things caused surprisingly little adverse comment dsor
der anywhere u the kingdom
The writer had opportunity to talk with number
OF Italian Officers and found them strongly IN sympathy
with dAnnunzo and hostile to the allies When they were
asked Why italy still had 100000 under nearly
yssr after the armistioe they replied The is not
over italy VIII have her rghts' Generally speaking, the
disorders Italy that time were greatly exaggerated N
the foreign press.
Things went from bad to worse The allies and the
league Of nations proved poeress- For than year
italy divided, and considerable part Of her army and
navy IN open rebellion, not only against Italy but
against the allies and al the world Italian industrial
Pr,c;r,occ Or,tIooL Pr.nL4or ~.