Carnic Alps

Their cabin basins and other fittings are now adorning the Italian dugouts.

My second day was devoted to a view of the Italian mountain warfare in the Carnic Alps.

Besides the two great fronts, one of defence, Trentino, and one of offence, Isonzo, there are very many smaller valleys which have to be guarded.

The total frontier line is over four hundred miles, and it has all to be held against raids if not invasions.

Their cabin basins and other fittings are now adorning the Italian dugouts.

my second day was devoted to a view of the italian mountain warfare in the carnic alps besides the two great fronts one of defence trentino and one of offence isonzo there are very many smaller valleys which have to be guarded the total frontier line is over four hundred miles and it has all to be held against raids if not invasions it is a most picturesque business far up in the rocolana valley i found the alpini outposts backed by artillery which had been brought into the most wonderful positions they have taken eight-inch guns where a tourist could hardly take his knapsack neither side can ever make serious progress but there are continual duels gun against gun or alpini against jaeger in a little wayside house was the brigade headquarters and here i was entertained to lunch it was a scene

that

i shall remember they drank to england i raised my glass to italia irredenta might it soon be ridenta they all sprang to their feet and the circle of dark faces flashed into flame they keep their souls in emotions these people i trust that ours may not become atrophied by self-suppression the italians are a quick high-spirited race and it is very necessary that we should consider their feelings and that we should show our sympathy with what they have done instead of making querulous and unreasonable demands on them in some ways they are in a difficult position the war is made by their splendid king a man of whom every one speaks with extraordinary reverence and love and by the people the people with the deep instinct of a very old civilization understand that the liberty of the world and their own national existence are really at stake but there are several forces which divide the strength of the nation there is the clerical which represents the old guelph or german spirit looking upon austria as the eldest daughter of the church a daughter who is little credit to her mother then there is the old nobility finally there are the commercial people who through the great banks or other similar agencies have got into the influence and employ of the germans When you consider all this, you will appreciate how necessary it is that Britain should in every possible way, moral and material, sustain the National Party.

Their cabin basins and other fittings are now adorning the Italian dugouts.

my second day was devoted to a view of the italian mountain warfare in the carnic alps besides the two great fronts one of defence trentino and one of offence isonzo there are very many smaller valleys which have to be guarded the total frontier line is over four hundred miles and it has all to be held against raids if not invasions it is a most picturesque business far up in the rocolana valley i found the alpini outposts backed by artillery which had been brought into the most wonderful positions they have taken eight-inch guns where a tourist could hardly take his knapsack neither side can ever make serious progress but there are continual duels gun against gun or alpini against jaeger in a little wayside house was the brigade headquarters and here i was entertained to lunch it was a scene that i shall remember they drank to england i raised my glass to italia irredenta might it soon be ridenta they all sprang to their feet and the circle of dark faces flashed into flame they keep their souls in emotions these people i trust that ours may not become atrophied by self-suppression the italians are a quick high-spirited race and it is very necessary that we should consider their feelings and that we should show our sympathy with what they have done instead of making querulous and unreasonable demands on them in some ways they are in a difficult position The war is made by their splendid king, a man of whom everyone speaks with extraordinary reverence and love, and by the people.

The people, with the deep instinct of a very old civilization, understand that the liberty of the world and their own national existence are really at stake.

But there are several forces which divide the strength of the nation.