The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1917. ITALY'S MILITARY POWER.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1917. ITALY'S MILITARY POWER.

It is a long stretch from the days of the Caesars to the present time, but it would seem that the Italians of to-day are earning as great a fame as the l?o----maus of two thousand years ago. No one can read the thrilling and dramatic account of the battle of Monte Faite.as penned by the able correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle, without a thrill of admiration for the gallantry of the Italians and a feeling of pride that Italy is one of our Allies. It seems but a few years since Italy, through the wise statesmanship of Lord John Russell, was promoted to a well-deserved place amongst, tho Great Powers. How thoroughly she has justified her new status is demonstrated by the way in which

she has become a worthy and valiant ally in the present struggle. There are many reasons why Italy and Britain should be comrades in arms. It was the Roman conquest of a large part of Britain that laid the foundation of the greatness of the Motherland and provided her with laws that have been developed as time went on into as perfect a system as any free country could desire. The British nation stands for freedom, right, justice and humanity, and it is for the enforcement of these principles that the flower of the Empire's manhood hsvo gone forth to destroy the cancer of Europe—the military despotism of the Huns. It was the Goths and the Huns who 'brought about the downfall o;' tho enervated" Roman Empire, and it will probably be the irony of fate that modernised Romans, as exemplified by the Italians, will in turn play a prominent part in the defeat of the Huns. It is by this means that history is made. Probably the strangest aspect of the present struggle, so fains Italy is concerned, is that when Germany took the field Italy was a partner

in the Central, or Triple, Alliance. Today ire find lier not only one of the most active enemies of lier late partners, lint one of tlio most successful. Her incentive. U great, for tin; recovery of lier iost provinces and people is at stake. Though allied with Austria tor sonic years, Italy could not forget that her countrymen in tho Trentino and at Trieste were under Austria's yoke. While Germany has been enslaving the French, population of Alsace and Lorraine, .Austria has been doing the same with the Italians in the Trentino, and doubtless considered she could continue the process for all time. It is not difficult to imagine that when Italy decided war on Austria, the latter considered that the task of dealing- a crushing Mow to the Italians would be as easy as falling off a log. It never pays to underestimate an enemy, especially under such circumstances as those under which Italy took up arms. Germany sneered at England's contemptible lit!-! army, yet to-day her troops and defences are being pulverised by the men of tho British Empire who sprang to arms at the call of duty. Whatever Austria may have thought of Italy as a foe at the outset of hostilities, when the Austrian had matters all their own way, she can no longer treat her foe as a negligible quantity or as being inferior in quality to her best troops. It was recently stated that the Austrian Emperor had visited tho Jsonzo front and returned in a state of fury mid despair at the inability of his armies to withstand tho Italian offensive. No one will wonder why this has come a'bout after reading the account of the battle of Mt. Faite. It is not only the superb bravery, hardiness and dash of the Italians that commands our applause, for the skilful generalship is equally admirable. The men mho can perform such incredible tasks and achieve such marvellous results as the Italians have done should he able to accomplish the purpose upon which their hopes are fixed. It was 'Britain who in the past helped them consistently in their efforts at emancipation, and it is Britain who is to-day assisting them in their patriotic warfare. The whole of the Allies aro being helped by the grand fight which Italy is putting up, and will gladly welcome the day when Trieste is taken and the way pavod for the redemption of Italia Irridenta. From small beginnings Italy has accomplished great things, and by keeping the Austrians well employed, as well as by largely reducing their available fighting power, she is materially helping the Allies in their struggle on other fronts. Italy has proved the surprise packet of the war.