Other Anniversaries, With Official Greetings Exchanged
by the Allies and the United States
The third anniversary of Italy's entry into the war was the occasion
of an address by Prime Minister Orlando, delivered in the Augusteum at
Rome on May 24, in which, in reaffirming the unity of the Allies, he
said:
For this unity, so solemnly consecrated again today, I express in
the name of Italy my deep gratitude to all. To England, which
could not send a more noble or more agreeable messenger than your
Royal Highness, who brings to us a message reaffirming friendship
with our country, a friendship which was shown at a time which was
painful to us, and which has been strengthened by the intimacy of
affection in the days of grief still more than in those of joy. To
France, to our great sister toward whom with a feeling of renewed
admiration our hearts are turned. To the United States, to this
young people, powerful in its strength and already rich in glory
owing to the wisdom of its leader and the numerous virtues of
its men. To the peoples conquered by the enemy because of their
smallness, for which reason their heroic sacrifice and admirable
bravery are all the more apparent. To those nations from the
Baltic to the Adriatic which the common enemy has oppressed. To
the oppressed nations in the interior and on the frontiers of
enemy States which heroically rise in rebellion with the cry "Long
Live the Entente!"
In the royal box were the Prince of Wales and Prince Peter of
Montenegro. The vast audience contained the official representatives
of all the allied powers and the United States, and the leaders of all
political and social groups of Italy, with representatives from all the
important cities. The Prince of Wales in his address said:
I come to you to assure you of the constant friendship and sincere
affection of the British people for your nation, whose enlightened
and precious sympathy is a proof of the creative unity of arms
which nothing can again dissolve. In the city of Rome, the ancient
capital of the world, the source of social order and justice, I
proudly proclaim my conviction that the great object for which
our two nations are fighting against the forces of reaction is
inevitably destined to triumph, owing to the union of which our
meeting this evening is symbolic.
The King of Italy addressed the following Order of the Day to the army
and navy:
Soldiers on land and sea! The fourth year of war, which began
today, finds you full of pride for the hard trials you have
faced, and which, with admirable courage, you have overcome. In
face of your firm decision to resist to the utmost the enemy was
obliged to call a halt, and in daring and magnificent actions you
have many a time shown him the indomitable spirit and resolute
will to conquer with which you are animated. This priceless
energy, revivified by the faith which your country has in you,
is strengthened still further by the anxiety with which your
oppressed and despoiled brothers await your coming.
Soldiers on land and sea! With the sacred image of a country
entirely freed from the enemy imprinted in the very depths of your
hearts, together with the ideals of justice and civilization which
our war has adopted as its aims, I will accompany you in your
future struggles, certain that the reward for the tireless energy
which you, in common with our valiant allies, have shown will not
be delayed much longer.
President Wilson sent the following message to the Italian people,
after it had been read by Secretary Lansing at a Washington celebration
of Italy's anniversary:
I am sure that I am speaking for the people of the United States
in sending to the Italian people warm fraternal greetings
upon this, the anniversary of the entrance of Italy into this
great war, in which there is being fought out once for all
the irrepressible conflict between free self-government and
the dictation of force. The people of the United States have
looked with profound interest and sympathy upon the efforts
and sacrifices of the Italian people, are deeply and sincerely
interested in the present and future security of Italy, and
are glad to find themselves associated with a people to whom
they are bound by so many personal and intimate ties in a
struggle whose object is liberation, freedom, the rights of
men and nations to live their own lives and determine their
own fortunes, the rights of the weak, as well as the strong,
and the maintenance of justice by the irresistible force of
free nations leagued together in the defense of mankind. With
ever-increasing resolution and force we shall continue to stand
together in this sacred common cause. America salutes the
gallant Kingdom of Italy, and bids her Godspeed.