things; the brutal facts, in this whirling age in which we live, have
more power to strike their imagination. What is one to say to them when
they see their comrades stabbed, slaughtered by your men as if they were
noxious animals--yesterday at Venice, the day before that at Pola,
to-day at Rieka. Englishmen and Americans, your Allies, receive your
'sincere and fraternal hand' which holds a dagger. As a method of
pacific penetration you will avow that this is rather rudimentary and
that the laws of Romulus did not teach you such fraternity. We have also
seen you striking women in the street and disembowelling a child. What
are we to think of that, _fratelli d'Italia_? Excuse us, but we are not
accustomed to such incidents. Is it not natural that the legendary,
gallant spirit of our sailors should infect the crowd? Our bluejackets
have looked in vain for the three colours which are dear to them and
which you have excluded utterly from all your rows of flags. Well, in
default of them, they had no choice but to array themselves in the
cockades which dainty hands pinned on their uniforms.... And our
'poilus,' in their faded, mud-smeared garments walk along 'your'
streets, disdainfully regarded by your dazzling and pomaded Staff. Do
you remember that these unshaven fellows who thrust back the Boche in
1918 are the descendants of those who in 1793 conquered Italy and Europe
with bare feet? Therefore do not strike your breasts if now and then a
smile involuntarily appears upon their lips. O you who henceforth will
be known as the immortal heroes of the Piave, if our fellows see to-day
so many noble breasts, it was not seldom that they saw another portion
of your bodies."
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS
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