The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-01
Marshal ArmandO
DiaZ, Commander
During War, Dead

OI0Z, OUlstlttb1lU6r
During War, Dead
Continued from page one)
700 guns, was the Phil Sheridan Of
the great war.
When all the world was bewail-
ing the dcbacle on the Isonzo front
late in October, 1917, and declaring
that Italy, like Russia, is now out
Of the war;" a silent, tenacious and
daring Italian soldier, with the
spirit displayed by the great Amer.
lean cavalry leader at Winchester,
Va, arose to snatch q marvellous
victory from ignominious defeat.
He drove the invader back and
aided by the British and French.
struck such hard blows, that bcauti.
full Venice was saved from the de-
spoilcr and her plains swept of the
barbarian hordcs. Indeed, it was
Diaz's smashing tactics that brought
about the collapse Of Austria and
forced her capitulation, to be fol-
lowed shortly after by the downfall
Of the Hohenzollern dynasty and
the surrender Of Germany.
Extremely Courageous
A striking instance Of the cour-
age and fortitude of Diaz was shown
by him in the war with Turkey in
1911-12. Supposed to have been
MORALLY wounded while leading his
troops in the Libyan campaign in
Tripoli he called for the flag Of
Italy and asked to be wrapped
within its glorious folds" Although
thought to be dying, Diaz survived
his injuries by sheer determination;
to win imperishable honors seven
years later as the conqueror Of Aus
tria in the plains of northern italy
and amid the Alpine SHOWS.
Armando Diaz's forcbears had
fought in the Napoleonic wars and
he had been a student Of the art of
war since childhood. Born in
Naples in 1861, the boy was
destined to bring the hereditary
enemy Of Italy to her knees, free
his long eYpatriated fellow country
men Of Trieste and the Trentino.
Diaz was educated at the celc-
brated military schools in Naples
and Turin. Outside Of military
circles, for years the future COM
lnander-in.chief of the Italian arm.
les was unknown. He had made
quite a record in the war with Tur-
key, in the Abyssinian and in the
Libyan campaigns, the plan of the
last named of which was largely of
his own devising.
A Great Organizer
Promoted to command of the
Twenty-third Army Corps on the
Iscazo after brilliant generalship
in handling a division Of troops
against the Austrians on the Carso
in 1915, General Diaz attracted
further attention to his great abili-
ty as an organizer. From August,
1916, until he was chosen to sue
coed General Cadora, in November,
1917, Diaz utilized his talents in
building up the morale Of the Ital-
ian troops and inspiring them with
the determination and zeal for vic.
tory that filled his own soul.
Soldiers related Of him that when
he commanded the Twenty Third
Army Corps he sometimes appeared
among the trenches. On one occa-
sion, at San Michele, in the forest
Of Selo, Diaz rode about utterly OBJ
livious to the terrific shellfire by
the Austrians. Siege batteries, it
was said, "were vomiting columns
Of incandescent material making
the stone heaps red hot" And yet
Diaz. in the midst Of this storm Of
death, looked as though he might
have been on dress parade. If he
saw regiment wavering, he would
shout "Ragazzi," (boys) and steady
and encourage them Rino Alessi,
correspondent who was with Gener-
al Diaz in those fateful days, thus
described him:
"A man in the prime Of life, of
medium height, with hair just
growing gray at the temples. He
walks with head slightly bent for
ward, the sign of a meditative mind.
His manner is that of a man sure Of
his own will. A psychologist would
find in him capabilities Of sur
mounting the most difficult crises
by force Of compelling PERSONAL
ity."
Diaz's energy has been described
as volcanic" It was said that he
combined with great personal pride
an adherence Of lame excuses and
was intolerant of petty personal
squabbles, thus making him not only
loved but also feared by his men. An
inflexible disciplinarian in actual
soldering, he worked the same rule
on himself as we'll as others. Pune
tilious in dress, his face bronzed by
campaigning, Diaz looked "every
inch soldier" One trifling physi-
cal defect - he was very slightly
crosseyed - was hailed as an omen
of good luck by the Italian troops as
the superstition was handed down to
them by the Latins Of old.
It seems that in every crisis con-
fronting q democratic nation that
the "man of destiny" appears. After
the Caporetto disaster all Italy
looked for this man to save it from
threatened bondage and ruin. Diaz
has been secretary to three chiefs Of
the general staff.
The memorable defeat of the Sec
ond Italian army-one of the three
forces operating against the Ger
mans and .Austrians west of the
Isonzo - threatened to demoralize
the fighting efficiency of Italy's
5000, 900 men. The appointment Of
Lieutenant General Diaz Is conn
mander-in-chief on November 3,
1917, soon set at rest the false hopes
Of the enemy for the collapse Of the
Italian front. He filled his soldiers
with fresh ardor for victory.
During the first three days Of his
new position as the successor Of
Cadorna, it was said Of him that He
carried out miracles" which few 81
his highest officers would have dared
to undertake. While the Austro.
German avalanche was rushing pre-.