THE IMPORTANCE OF VENICE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1016, 19 November 1917, Page 4

THE IMPORTANCE OF VENICE.

Venice is noteworthy in that, for | 1300 years, from the time of Attila, j who formed the first Republic, until Napoleon entered and took possession of the city in 1797, no hostile forces had ever penetrated its waterways or landed upon its quays. It had become a maritime State of great importance, and, when the rest of southeastern Europe had been over-run by the Turks, its citizens had alone triumphed against them. To-day it is one of the throb principal ports used by Italy for her naval operations, and its loss would be, for the Italians, a very serious matter, as it would give the Austro-Germans practical command of the northern Adriatic, besides affording admirable shelter and making an ideal base for submarines. Under existing circumstances, Italy is able to hold up the Austrian fleet at Pohi and Trieste, and j to afford shelter to the Allied fleets cooperating with her own. The capture of Venice would (quite apart from its value as a naval or submarine base) be of material help to the Anstro-Ger-mans, as placing a hostage of almost incalculable value in their hands. A enicc with its art treasures and magnificent buildings would make an ideal city for looting and vandalism, and Germany could, and would, possibly say to the Italians; “If yen don’t make peace :„nd accept our terms, we will destroy Venice and lay the city von prize so highly in ruins. ’ After the i rape of Belgium and Northern trance, the destruction of the magnificent Hheims Cathedral, the treasures of Louvain, and the many magnificent churches and public buildings in the territories she had ravished, Germany is „oi likely to stop at the destruction of the City of the Doges, with its magnificent churches, palaces and public buildings. The gorilla-like bcastiality which has characterised Germany’s conduct of the war all the way through seems likclv to continue until the end. and from ' the Allied, and especially the Italian standpoint, the loss of Venice would bo not so much deplored by reason of its strategical importance as a naval base, as for its possible fate at the bauds of vcngefully and vindictive enemies. It may be assumed that the Italians have, as far as possible. iemovod all valuables from the city, and that the famous collections of pictures and art treasures, which arc the pride of the Aecademia, and the Masco Ci\ico, have been carefully safeguarded bv such removal. But the \ enetiaii churches, and notably those of St. Marco, St. Giorgio Maggioro and Sta. Maria della Salute, are gems of art in themselves, all decorated with frescoes, mosaics and carvings, besides winch their walls arc lined with pictures that I have obtained a world-wide fame and renown. Then there is the Arsenal, with its priceless collection of old \ enctian ships, armour, collections of weapons and spoils of war. If Venice is to share the fate of Louvain, as it may do if the Germans gain possession of the ,-itv Italv will sustain an irreparable loss, and' one the contemplation of which might well cause her to pause in her determination to sec the war through. Its possible fate appears | ns to constitute an even graver danger than that which would be created in ; the naval and military situation, should Venice be lost ,to the oncm>. ( ‘ blasphemous fashion in which the Ka - cm* is to-day announced to have addressed his troops on the Tagliamento, declaring that the success ot the Aus- , tro-German troops in Italy was due to , a Higher Power than man participating . in the enemy’s terrible collapse, when i lie knows that collapse is duo to the diabolical treachery of his own agents, F indicates that the German Emperor is not likedv to lie deterred by any qualms . of conscience from continuing m the path of ruthless destruction which has marked the conduct of his troops, and 1 the Higher Command all through the 1 wa,* I’or that reason alone the re- . suit of the stand made by the Indians * on the Piave will he awaited with intense interest in the Allied countries. The fate of Venice hangs m the bal a nee.