Smyrna times., 1927-06-08
ODD LANGUAGE LINE
IN NORTHERN ITALY
Divides Italians From Those
Speaking German.

Washington.-The reported deporta-
ton of German lawyer from SalornO
il the German-Speaking portion Of
northern Italy because it is alleged
that he gave lessons in the German
language brings Italy's war-won ter
ritory once more into public notice.
SalornO," says bulletin from the
Washington Cd. O. headquarters OF
the National Geographic society, 'lie5
close to the Language line which
crosses the Adige valley about 10 miles
north of Trento. This line divides the
Italian-speaking inhabitants of Tren-
tino, the southern portion of Italy's
new territory, from the German-speak-
ing Tyrolese to the north. This form
er TyrOlean region is now called Alto
Adige,' or Upper Adige. by the Ital-
ians. This line near SalOrno is one
of the unique languages lines of EG-
rope, since it is apart from national
boundaries; yet there is such a plain
demarkation that evidences Of the 'cul-
tural boundary can be seen from the
windows of a railway train.
Shows Language Line.
AS the traveller rides north from
thoroughly Italian old Trento, scene
Of the historic council of Trent, lie
finds Italian architecture on every side.
In the villages stucco walls, gently
sIoping red tile roofs, and the cam
paniles of the parish churches pro
claim this to be a land of Italians.
But soon he notes a change More
and more dark shingle roofs appear
and take on a sleeper pitch. little
farther along some of the roofs are
broken by dormer windows, and then
near SalOrno he sees on a village
church the first sharp Gothic spire.
1t serves almost as an exclamation
point to mark the language line
From this point nOrthward the pop
ulation is predominantly Tyrolese, of
German blood and German speech
Fifteen miles beyond SalOrno the tray
eler enters BOlzano, metropolis of Alto
Adige, and finds himself to all outward
appearances in a German world The
population is predominantly German
speaking, and German, in spite of laws
to discourage it, is the language of
the streets, the shops the hotels and
restaurants. One sees only a sprin-
King of Italian soldiers and officials
On ordinary days. On Sundays and
other holidays excursions bring train
loads of uniformed Fascist up from
the Italian plains country to the south
Diverse Cultures Cause Problems
The northern portion of the Adige
valley, though Roman province in
the early centuries of the Christian
era, has been governed by people of
German ancestry since the days of the
barbarian incursions which finally
broke up the Roman empire. The val
ley, however, lies south of the crest
of the Alps, and following the World
war was made part of Italy in order
that that country might have a logical
geographic boundary capable of easy
defense. With the country some 2OO,-
600 German speaking people went IN
der Italian sovereignty, a fact which
has created a stubborn governmental
problem for Italy and many other
problems for the population itself. AL
though the life of the people con-
tnUCS, to all appearances, much as
when Alto Adige was a part of the
Austrian province Of Tyrol. many
changes have been brought about by
the Italian government.
1T has been decided that in every
way possible the use of the Italian Ian
guage shall be extended. The children
Of Alto Adige must now carry on their
studies entirely in Italian and though
the parents may teach them German in
their homes, the teaching of that Ian
guage in private classes is prohibited
It was because of this regulation, ap-
parently, that the recently reported
deportation took place"