Italy, since 1860 at least, has cherished the dream that sometime all
European territory with Italian-speaking inhabitants would be united
under Italian government. When the World War began Italy was supposed
to be an ally of Germany and Austria. She had agreed to fight with
them in case they were attacked--in a defensive war.
At first she did not enter the World War. She perceived from the very
beginning that Germany and Austria were the attackers and were not the
nations attacked. Her people began to understand what victory for the
Central Powers would mean and clamored for war on the side of the
Allies. Then the cry went up to redeem the lost Italian provinces held
by Austria and called "Italia Irredenta" or "Unredeemed Italy," and
Italy entered the war May 23, 1915.
At first she declared war upon Austria but not upon Germany. She made
no attempt to work in harmony with the Allies. It was a war of her own
upon Austria to regain the lost Italian provinces of the Trentino and
Trieste. Although she fought against tremendous obstacles in the
mountain passes with wonderful courage and success, her entrance into
the war was of assistance to the Allies only as it kept a certain
number of Austrian soldiers from the eastern and western fronts.
In 1916, the Italians captured Gorizia and all Italy went wild and
began to dream of a more wonderful development than had ever seemed
possible before. In 1917, they fought on with seemingly great success
and dreamed wilder dreams than ever, for Russia was out of the war and
would have no claim to Constantinople and the straits. Italy in this
year sent an army across the Adriatic into Albania to assure Italian
control of that country.
And then the "castles in the air" were suddenly shattered. The Italian
army had not been properly supplied and the country was very short of
coal. The army had therefore not been able to follow up its successful
attacks. The enemy had also caused great discontent among the common
soldiers in the Italian forces by spreading lies among them. The
collapse of the Russian armies had also made many of them believe
Germany was unbeatable.
Then, too, it is said the Italian generals were too sure, "too
confident," as athletic trainers would say, and had not properly
protected their armies and their northern provinces against a reverse.
Italy had declared war on Germany on August 27, 1916, and German shock
troops set free by the downfall of Russia were sent against the
incautious Italians and broke through their lines.
No prepared positions were ready back of the lines. The great bases
were close up to the lines. Therefore when the Italian armies were
obliged to retreat to prevent being surrounded and captured, they had
to retreat so far that their army bases with all their supplies were
lost and hundreds of thousands of Italian non-combatants were forced to
leave their homes on scarcely a "moment's notice." 250,000 Italians
and 2000 guns were captured by the enemy.
The greatest humiliation and the worst suffering followed, however, for
the Italian people who were left behind in the provinces overrun by the
victorious Austrians and Germans. The following proclamation by the
Germans in the province of Udine is an excellent example of how the
Huns treated conquered territory and conquered peoples.
PROCLAMATION issued by the Headquarters of the German Military
Government at Udine to the inhabitants of conquered Italy.
A house-to-house search will be made for all concealed arms, weapons,
and ammunition.
All victuals remaining in the houses must be delivered up.
Every citizen must obey our labor regulations.
ALL WORKMEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN OVER 15 YEARS OLD ARE obliged to work
in the fields every day, Sundays included, from 4 A.M. to 8 P.M.