The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1916. MARCHING TO VICTORY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 43, 18 September 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1916. MARCHING TO VICTORY.

Cheering news from all fronts of the Allies’ advance continues and nothing more brilliant has been done in I all the war than the , smashing of 1 Germany’s best troops in the Western theatre. It has been truly said that Armageddon on the Meuse has changed the aspect of the landscape; and the brooks are dammed and ravines choked with gray-clad corpses, ] the sacrifice of the Herod of Prussia to militarism. Especially uplifting also is the groat achievement of the Italians, and their new successes as related to-day are something to he proud of. The full credit for the great part Italy has played has not always been accorded, but the Lon-j don Times recently pointed out thatj the Italians might have fairly ciaim-i c'd that, at the end of a year oi war, they alone of Britain’s continentalj allies have carried the war on all fronts into the territories of the enemy. When it is remembered that the frontier forced upon Italy m 1860 was specially designed to facilitate invasion from Austria, that this| frontier extends for live hundred miles, that Austria has been fortifying it for years, that she was fully prepared for the struggle, and that pacifists and pro-Germans in high place had left Italy unprepared, the greatness of the effort which has achieved this result may in some degree bo gauged. Italy has practically reversed the situation which existed a year ago. It is she, and ' not Austria, who now holds the key to the passes through which the Teutonic barbarians have so often poured to devastate and to plundei . j,or. And through these passes, as our cables now show, Italy’s soldiers are pouring upon the Austrian arm-j ies. Italian feeling is stronger and. ' more united in the cause ol the allies 1 than it was when she resolved to | throw in her lot with them. In i touching upon this point the Times I gays: The sincerity of Italy in the I o:l use of rigid and freedom is shown ! in a remarkable way by toe 'idle at jvhit-h she finally broke with Austria, i \ year ago Mackeiiseii was dining | the Russians before him in Galicia, { and the month which the English had | ;spcnt in Gallipoli without making '■progress had revealed some t i mg of I .fi, P task that lay before us there ami j 1 of its probable result. This was tim * moment at which Italy came in--no! on the crest but in the trough of the

wave of our fortunes. The diversion was doubly valuable by reason of its timeliness, and particularly welcome as an indication of the high and chivalrous spirit of Italy. The western peoples felt from tile bust that, sooner or later, they must find her by their side. She could not have opposed them, she could not even have remained neutral, without being untrue to the principles from which she draws her hie. She is essentially liberal, progressive, democratic, and humane. She is the splendid creation of the rights of nationalities. It was not conceivable that with such a past—and, as we all believe., with 1 such a future—ltaly should help the military despotisms of central Kurope in stifle all to which she owes, her greatness and her rebirth. Wasj she to stand aloof wjiile the hide-, pendent civilisation which Europe first learned from her was crushed, under the burden of Teutonic Kultur,! imposed upon all peoples by German; pedants and German soldiers 'for! their good?’ So great an apostasy was inconceivable to anything but to' German arrogance. Italy made her choice. She decided at all costs m be faithful to her traditions and to her generous heart. We are confident, that her courage, her sacrifices, herj chivalry and her fidelity will not bo. without their rich reward in the present and in the memories of this tremendous war.