Giuseppe Garibaldi may well be that rare person that is both a man and myth.  The presentation will raise the question:  was the fabulous Eroe di Caprera just a legend or truly one of the greatest masters of revolutionary war?  Vito Tamboli will attempt to bring this most unusual of history’s great men into the light of reality and truth rather than present him as a hero of such great proportions that he may well be just the creation of imaginative biographers.

Vito Tamboli, a member of the Italian Club, is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business of St. Louis University.  He appears regularly on the Italian Radio Program and is a frequent contributor of articles to Il Pensiero.  He is a retired Colonel in the US Army Reserve. 
 

One of the more difficult challenges confronting Italian Club presenters is to take a very broad and complex subject and bring it down to a specific message that can be delivered in approximately 30 to 40 minutes.  In his presentation on the Partigiani, the Italian WW II Resistance Fighters, speaker Valerio Bianco accomplished the task masterfully by focusing on one specific Partisan operation, the battle near the town of Valle di Nizza.  As preliminary background, Valerio first displayed various maps and charts showing the many Partisan units operating in Northern Italy after September 1943.  He described the size of the units, the territories to which they were assigned, how the units were organized, and the various types of missions they were given.  He described how the units obtained arms and ammunition and other such materials – at first using what they could capture from the German or Fascist troops and later, as the war progressed, receiving supplies from the British and American forces in the south.  His slides and comments describing the dangerous night airdrop operations, the various signaling and communications systems, and the assistance of British Commando officers were particularly interesting. 

At the age of 15, Valerio Bianco joined the partigiani along with his father and uncle.  Their unit was the 9th Partigiano (Garibaldi) Division.  The Division’s zone of operations was in Piemonte, in the Province of Asti, and Valerio’s unit was based near the town of Monferrato.  The unit’s primary mission was to blow up bridges, to cut rail and communication lines, to harass German and Fascist units, to rescue and retrieve shot down Allied aircrew members, and to provide whatever assistance possible to the local civilian population. 

In March 1945, the Partisan units operating in the area of Monferrato were informed that two heavily armed German Army units, comprising some 30 to 40 heavy trucks and 400 troops, were to move north separately from the towns of Monferrato and Canelli.  The Germans were to meet at Valle di Nizza and to proceed together to Asti.  Here the Partisan units attacked the German columns and, in the daylong action that followed, the battle of Valle di Nizza, they won a total victory, a victory culminating with the surrender of the German forces.  The Partisans disarmed the Germans but gave them safe passage to bring their wounded and survivors to the hospital in Asti and even generously arranged for local farmers to provide drivers, horses, and wagons to carry the German dead and wounded. 

The battle of Valle di Nizza was a military victory for the partisans, and, much more importantly, it was a tremendous psychological victory for the Italian people of the area as well. 

A particularly moving part of the presentation was when Valerio, obviously choked with emotion, showed slides of various groups of partigiani - both men and women, many of whom were old friends and comrades from his unit.  Some of these have been killed in action, many others are now gone, but their photographs brought back memories of a time, more than half a century ago, when he, as a young boy, fought besides them in a terrible war without rules. 

Valerio Bianco closed his presentation with the reading two documents in Italian, which he then translated.  One was a letter from a partigiano officer thanking America and Americans for their help.  The other was from Colonel Hewitt, a key British Army officer assigned as liaison to Partisan forces.  Hewitt, in thanking the partigiani, highly praised the importance of their contributions to Allied victory.
. 

Examples of such activities include the recent tour of Italianate design influences in Tower Grove Park led by Park Director John Karel; the tour of Mosaics at the St. Louis Cathedral; or the bus tour, a few years ago, with Sculptor Rudy Torrini as our guide, to see examples of his art throughout the St. Louis area, including a visit to his monumental work at Ruma, Illinois in memory of the nuns martyred in Liberia. 

Such activities have been very popular with our members and we would like to expand this effort by establishing a formal committee to plan and organize such events.  Board Member, Marie Wehrle has kindly volunteered to serve as Chair of the Activities Committee to work on such events on a regular basis. 

Anyone interested in helping Marie on this very important project is cordially invited, and warmly encouraged, to contact her by email at marie@kenrick.edu or by telephone at 314-644-1645 (evenings).  Also, anyone with ideas or suggestions for an Italian-related activity is asked to contact Marie and pass the suggestions along. 
 

Her lectures/presentations will be in Italian but participants may ask questions or make comments in English.  The group will tentatively meet on Tuesday evenings from 7-8 p.m. starting March 21, 2000 through the end of April.  The location is presently set at Washington University, although this may change depending on room availability.  Due to the nature of the topic/format, it will be necessary to limit attendance to 12 people. 

For more information or to make reservations, please contact Barbara Klein by email at barbara201@aol.com or by telephone at 618-233-7261 (evenings).

IL  FERRO  E  LA  STELLA

At 4:00 p.m., Br. Steve McMichaels, SLU Professor of Theology, will speak on The Church and the Jews:  Social, Economic and Theological Issues in the 16th Century.
 

Ingredients for four persons:
1 lb. each of baby octopus, squid, and mussels; 
2 lb. baby shrimp; 
1 good-sized lemon; 
2 garlic cloves (chopped); 
extra virgin olive oil; 
salt, pepper, sprig of parsley; vinegar.

In boiling salted water, cook octopus and squid.  Separately boil shrimp adding a touch of vinegar.  In a hot pan add mussels until open, save the juice and make sure mussels are clean.  When octopus and squid are done (20 minutes) drain and cut in small pieces.  Let cool.  When all ingredients have cooled, mix the squid, octopus, mussels, and shrimp in a bowl with the extra virgin olive oil (3 tablespoons per person), juice of one lemon, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste.  Add some mussel juice, sprinkle with chopped parsley, mix well and serve.  Bruschetta or toasted bread can be served along with the salad.

FALSO MAGRO

Ingredients for four persons:
1-1/4 lb. top round or veal sliced in ¼” thick slices; 
¼ lb. Prosciutto; 
6 slices pancetta; 
1 lb. Italian sausage; 
¼ lb. caciocavallo; 
1 onion (chopped); 
1 cup bread crumbs; 
2 eggs; 
2 garlic cloves (chopped); 
½ glass red wine; sprig of parsley; 
1 qt. tomato sauce; 
extra virgin olive oil; 
salt and pepper.

Prepare the stuffing by dicing the prosciutto, sausage, pancetta, caciocavallo, parsley, and garlic.  Mix all ingredients with one cup of breadcrumbs, the 2 eggs, and add salt and pepper to taste.  Spread the stuffing on the sliced meat, roll and tie.  In a pan sauté the chopped onion in olive oil.  When golden, add rolled meat coating it on all sides.  Add wine and tomato sauce, cover, and cook for about two hours over low heat.  If the sauce gets dry during cooking, add some meat stock.  When done, slice and arrange on plate.  Top with sauce and serve. 
 

18.  Salvator Rosa (Napoli 1615 - Roma 1673) pittore e poeta di temperamento esuberante e di spirito satirico, è noto soprattutto per i paesaggi, le battaglie e le vedute di fantasia, pervase da intense suggestioni romantiche e forti tonalità cromatiche.  A Roma si rese famoso per un’aspra polemica con il Bernini e per le sue interpretazioni come attore e ideatore di spettacoli.  Fu anche poeta notevole e originale, autore di epigrammi e di sette Satire che vennero pubblicate postume nel 1694.  La Pittura è il terzo dei sette componimenti, tutti a terzine, che vanno sotto il nome di Satire, genere di poesia caratterizzata da ironia e sarcasmo che ebbe larga diffusione nel Seicento.  In questa satira Salvator Rosa prende di mira i numerosi pittori che dipingono nature morte eccessivamente descrittive. 

Escon dal Lazio le pitture a soma¹,
e tanta de’ pittori è la semenza²
che infettato ne resta ogn’idïoma³.
Non conoscono studio o diligenza,
e in Roma non di men questi cotali
sono i pittori della Sapïenza.
Altri studiano a far solo animali;
e senza rimirarsi entro agli specchi⁴,
si ritraggono giusti e naturali.
Par che dietro al Bassan⁵ ciascuno invecchi,
rozzo pittor di pecore e cavalle;
ed Eufranore⁶ e Alberto⁷ han negli orecchi.
E son le scuole lor le mandre e stalle;
e consumano in far, l’etadi intiere⁸,
Bisce rospi lucertole e farfalle;
e quelle bestie fan sì vive e fiere,
che fra i quadri e i pittor si resta in forse
quai sian le bestie finte e quai le vere. 

(vv.217-234)

 ¹ in gran quantità. ² prole. ³ ogni linguaggio artistico. ⁴ (L’Università romana fondata da Bonifacio VIII nel 1303).  ⁵ Jacopo da Ponte, detto il Bassano, 1517 - 1592. ⁶ Euphranor, pittore e scultore greco del IV sec. A.C. ⁷ Albrecht Dürer, pittore e incisore tedesco, 1471 – 1528. ⁸ l’intera vita. 

8.  La seconda guerra punica (218-202 A.C.). 

Dopo la sconfitta, Cartagine cercò nella penisola iberica un compenso alla perdita della Sicilia con l’assedio di Sagunto, una città alleata di Roma.  I Romani intimarono ai Cartaginesi di abbandonare l’assedio della città e al loro rifiuto cominciarono le ostilità. Annibale lasciò il fratello Asdrubale al comando dell’esercito nella penisola iberica e intraprese la marcia memorabile dalla Spagna alla Valle Padana attraverso i Pirenei, la valle del Rodano e le Alpi. 

Racconta lo storico Tito Livio che Annibale disponeva di un esercito formidabile che includeva ventun elefanti, novantamila fanti e dodicimila cavalieri.  In principio Annibale riuscì a vincere le battaglie del Ticino, della Trebbia e del Trasimeno, ma nessuna città umbra o etrusca di unì al suo esercito.  Roma, per uscire da questa situazione difficile, nominò dittatore Fabio Massimo, che, per la sua tattica di indebolire il nemico senza venire a battaglia campale, fu chiamato cunctator, il temporeggiatore.  Dopo aver subìto una grave sconfitta a Canne, i Romani riportarono una vittoria decisiva a Zama sotto il comando di Scipione, a cui fu dato il titolo di il titolo di Africano. 

Dopo la sconfitta di Cartagine, Roma, divenne una potenza mediterranea.  Nel 146 A.C. la Macedonia e la Grecia divennero province romane e Cartagine fu definitivamente distrutta.
 

La Terza Guerra Punica (146 A.C.).

Massinissa, re di Numidia, abusava Cartagine occupando i suoi territori, ma le proteste di Cartagine non venivano ascoltate dai Romani.  Quando Cartagine dichiarò guerra a Massinissa, rompendo così il trattato romano-cartaginese stipulato alla fine della seconda guerra punica, i Romani ebbero il pretesto per dichiarare la guerra contro Cartagine.  La città resistette all’assedio romano per circa tre anni, ma alla fine fu incendiata e completamente distrutta da Lucio Scipione Emiliano e il suo territorio fu annesso allo Stato Romano con il nome di Provincia d’Africa. 

Al sorgere del I secolo A.C., i territori romani comprendevano l’Italia, la Gallia Cisalpina, l’Istria, la Dalmazia, la Sicilia, la Sardegna, la Corsica, la Spagna,, la Macedonia, e vasti territori in Africa e Asia.