GENERAL DIAZ

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 81, 31 December 1919, Page 7

GENERAL DIAZ

ITALY'S. ACHIEVEMENT OF UNITY. General Diaz, the conqueror of Italy in the recent war, was the guest of honour at a dinner party .given ,bv the Italian colony of London at the Prince's Restaurant. He wore his grey uniform, adorned only with h:s four lines of libbons, the star conferred upon him by King George the day before, and the two stars which have been given to him by his own King. Among the company were some half-a-dozen oldish men, who wore, without any covering, the rod shirt of the Garibaldian campaign.' The night was a celebration of two anniversaries, one nnte-dated, one true. Nominally the dinner was in celebration of. the birthday of tho King of Italy, pat forward by a few days so that General Diaz could'attend it—and that is also the anniversary of the armistice 'effected in Par:.?. It was the real anniversary of the defeat of the Austrian Army. In proposing tho health of General Diaz, the Italian Ambassador (the Marquis said: "General, we aro proud of von! It is a matter of gratification to us that our good friend Lord Cnvan fully recocrnised the valour of Italy's trooo®. Thero arp po peoplo better iudges of valour than the British." Thev now regarded the Brlish Army and Navv as more than Allies. Thev were their brothers! (Loud cheers,) The Ambassador said the war had brought about the realisation of tl.o hopes of his nation. All the company sprang at ence to their feet, with enthusiastic. shouts of "Fiume!" General Diaz, in reply to his tumultuous welcome, spoke with vigour and emoti"". "We Italians," ho sa'd, "aro now al! one Our Army did its duty. 'J he nat : ot\ did its duty. You of the To-i'lin cibny, did. yours. We lire all er-titled to bo proud of the results. I cannot say enough of the support which our srond friends the English gave us. We are ivnv one. For over wo must remain so." The General recalled the last desperate lwttle-of the war, and mentioned that his troops went into battle singing, with garlands of (lowers on their rilles. "To them," he exclaimed, in a passage of inspiring eloriuence, "the victory is due. The Austrian Navy wanted Venice. Tn Venice Ihe Austrian Navy ere --bill: it :u in submission; and tho works of art they cvpl--h1 are still the proud of Venice.. "Twelve monflis ago, on this very r'ay ottlie vodr, th n Austrian Plenipotentiary chine to our lines. We imposed (ur terms, and they had to be conceded! (Cheers.) Our future is great. Wo look to the Orient." (Cheers.)