AN ITALIAN SOLDIER'S LETTER.
[To THE EDITOR ON THI " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—The following letter addressed to a bountiful lady who presides over a hospital and convalescent home in the North of Italy is interesting as a revelation of the brave, warm, and enduring heart of the Italian soldier. The writer, whose arm was shattered by a hand grenade and amputated, hails from the Venetian country. Before the war he could not read or write. He has learned to do both in hospital, and if his spelling is still rather phonetic' he finds no difficulty in expressing his thoughts in a clear and legible script. In another letter he speaks of the advantages the war is bringing to the region where he lives by the opening up of roads and communications, but the one here translated is perhaps the most interesting to English readers as showing the present spirit of the Italian people " ItursTaions LADY,—I was very happy to receive your message. I cannot describe the joy with which I learned the occupation of Gorizia. The celebration in my town of Tarcento was moving. The soldiers carried red, white, and green flags, and the band of the 2nd Infantry Regiment which has a detachment here played the Marsigliese ' and the Royal March, while the soldiers cheered ; hero there are few civilians. I could not keep back my tears for joy. The Italian soldiers have covered themselves with glory, they are a pattern to the world, especially in mountain warfare. If victory comes a little late, it is only that it was not possible earlier • we Italians had not been studying how to make war for forty years like tho Germans. Their arrogance is doomed, and in a little while victory will be with us and our allies. Hero in the war zone there is great enthusiasm. Peace can only come with the smashing of militarism, and then the road will be open for the progress of young Italy. I was much pleased to read in our papers of the con- gress held at Palla.nza, which means that while the soldiers are fighting for the holy cause our chiefs are making provision for our food, and it is only just that when our soldiers have done so much there should be those who can think for their future, without their having ever again to emigeate to the barbarian empires, as I myself had to do for several years, to be treated there like assassins—we were robbing their bread, they used to tell us ; and now instead we will go to our allies and we shall be treated like brothers who are fighting in the same cause."
He goes on to say he has been promised a tobacco agency by his syndic and hopes soon to receive the licence, but some little advance will be needed to stock it as all his four brothers are under arms At present I have not received the indemnity due to me. They have so much work to do in all the offices, and for the present they must only think of how to win the victory ; afterwards they will think of us who have suffered."
And so with an expression of very warm thanks for all that was done for him and for the other wounded in the hospital and messages to the nurses who took care of him, he concludes: "I salute you dearly."
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