Thursday, November 13, 2008

Itay's Role in WWI by Arthur Conan Doyle

The ANNOTICO Report

 

The British and French BEGGED Italy to break their Treaty with Austria and Fight with them in WWI.  Italy would have been wise to remain Neutral, since Italy was NOT Militarily, Politically, or Economically prepared for War. None the Less Italy joined the Allies.

 

It was therefore unforgivable for the French and British who  were stymied in their Trench warfare over level ground, to launch severe unforgivable criticism at the Italians, for not being able to make advances up sheer cliffs in arctic weather against heavily fortified Austrian positions.

 

Some motivation of  the British and French might have been to excuse territorial promises that they reneged on at the Versailles Treaty. Those broken promises led directly to the anger felt by Italian War Veterans, who saw their sacrifices demeaned, and led to the rise of Mussolini.

 

Arthur Conan Doyle in his book in 1916 "A Visit To Three Fronts" documented the unfairness of the derogatory reports after visiting all three fronts

Conan Doyle's Analysis of the Italian Campaign Against Austria

By Arthur Conan Doyle, May 1916

London Guardian. UK

Wednesday November 12 2008

 Extract from A Visit To Three Fronts, by Arthur Conan Doyle. In May 1916, the Italian authorities requested that an independent observer visit their lines and report his impressions. Conan Doyle also visited the British and French lines "for comparison".

I leave Italy with a deep feeling of gratitude for the kindness shown to me, and of admiration for the way in which they are playing their part in the world's fight for freedom. They have every possible disadvantage, economic and political. But in spite of it they have done splendidly. Three thousand square kilometres of the enemy's country are already in their possession. They relieve to a very great extent the pressure upon the Russians, who, in spite of all their bravery, might have been overwhelmed last summer during the "durchbruch" had it not been for the diversion of so many Austrian troops.

The time has come now when Russia by her advance on the Pripet is repaying her debt. But the debt is common to all the Allies. Let them bear it in mind. There has been mischief done by slighting criticism and by inconsiderate words. A warm sympathetic hand-grasp of congratulation is what Italy has deserved, and it is both justice and policy to give it.

From first to last the Alpini have had the ascendency in the hill fighting. The spirit in the ranks is something marvellous. There have been occasions when every officer has fallen and yet the men have pushed on, have taken a position and then waited for official directions.

But if that is so, you will ask, why is it that they have not made more impression upon the enemy's position? The answer lies in the strategical position of Italy . The Alps form such a bar across the north that there are only two points where serious operations are possible. One is the Trentino Salient, where Austria can always threaten and invade Italy. She lies in the mountains with the plains beneath her. Austria can always invade the plain, but the Italians cannot seriously invade the mountains, since the passes would only lead to other mountains beyond.

Therefore, the only possible policy is to hold the Austrians back. This they have successfully done, and though the Austrians with the aid of shattering heavy artillery have recently made some advance, they can never really carry out any serious invasion. The Italians, then, have done all that could be done in this quarter.

There remains the other front, the opening by the sea. Here the Italians had a chance to advance over a front of plain ... They cleared the plain, they crossed the river, they fought a battle upon the slopes of the hills (taking 20,000 Austrian prisoners), and now they are faced by barbed wire, machine guns, cemented trenches and every other device which has held them as it has held everyone else.

But remember what they have done for the common cause and be grateful for it. They have in a year occupied 40 Austrian divisions, and relieved our Russian allies to that very appreciable extent. They have killed or wounded a quarter of a million, taken 40,000, and drawn to themselves a large portion of the artillery.

As to the future, it is very easy to prophesy. The Italians will continue to absorb large enemy armies. Neither side can advance far as matters stand, but if the Russians advance and Austria has to draw men east, there will be a tiger spring for Trieste. If manhood can break the line, then I believe the Durandos will do it. "Trieste o morte!" I saw chalked on the walls all over north Italy. That is the Italian objective.

 

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