ROYAL DUKE DEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 157, 6 July 1931, Page 7

ROYAL DUKE DEAD.

NOTED ITALIAN GENERAL.

ROME, July 5

The death is reported of the Duke of Aosta, a cousin of King Victor Emmanuel of Italy and a general in the Great War.

When Italy entered the war, the Duke of Aosta was on the reserve list. Aβ a result of friction between two Italian generate the duke was appointed to the command of the 3rd Army, and held this post till the end of the war. His army fought in the Carso ' with considerable success, but the Austrians held very etrong positions im this difficult region, and his task was toWear them down, for it was impossible to make much progress. The duke soon proved himself a very capable soldier and not a mere figurehead. He knew how to ensure harmony and co-operation among his officers, and was very popular with his men, whose lot be did much to alleviate. Indeed, his gifte as a leader were such that he would probably have been selected to succeed Cadorna in the chief command after the Caporetto disaster had it not been thought inadvisable to give 4 a royal personage a position of so great responeibilty. Throughout the war the Duchess of Aosta wag inspectress-general of Rod Cross nurses. Despite her delicate health she braved fatigue and many hardships, and fully earned the silver medal for valour which wae awarded to her.