THE HEART OF ITALY

Nelson Evening Mail, 22 July 1916, Page 2

THE HEART OF ITALY

PATRIOTISM AND FAITH. From Italy has come the translation of a letter written 'by an Italian soldier to a friendi living in Florence. The lady who forwarded the letter says that ''tne translation' is by the little lady to whom the letter is addiressed. I send it lor publication without alteration, for no correction cotild better express the .-pirit of loyalty, patriotism, and faith in "he heai't of that so'dier." The letter follows in part: "This .morning w-e had the comfoi-t, after such a very long time, to heax Mass oh the field. The moment was quite unfavourable, and made one realise more than: ever the solemnity. Our brave chaplain (a Tuscan) offered the Mass in suffrage for the souls of- our poor dead, while for organ we had the rumble of cannon. How many reflections in those 20 minutes of sincere meditation ! How evident was the union of the tliVee great sentiments: family, fatherland, rel'gion.

LIKE THE CRUSADERS

"Our thoughts rush to our dear ones. Many fellows that in the company have the name of atheists, were present at the Mass, kneeling, hand on e un. It -va-s a fine spectacle to see all those anmed men. It was Like the ancient Crusaders ; and, indeed, we are fighting "like them, for peace and civilisation. After the Ma.ss we had an instruction'; it was very simple, but it made certain; hearts vibrate with perseverance and a stronger sD.'rit of sacrifice, although- generally this stiirit is not lacking. "We always tremble- for the unknown fate of ours." especially those who have; like me, a brother or other relatives at the front, to do their duty in defence of our Italy who is about to accomplish her national unity. "Jlanv people ask -me what we are doing, k<? if the war of to-day was like an excursion! Those who are far from* the field can only arrive to imagine fancies; but we who are here and who ( w'lliuelv suffer everything, we see how it is difficult to direct such a -multitude against a' not inferior number of snemy forces, well disciplined and! in l readiness for such a long time.

WILL, ENDURE EVERY SACRIFICE

"So, dear friends, we can neither give details nor sacrifice events. We will endure every sacrifice wvth resignation because we have great confidence i-ni cur chiefs, and till now. thank Gdd, the official news of all Italy is excellent, and' this is the confirmation: that the army is always brave andi still has the an&ent valour of those who began the unity of our fatherland. We think often* of them' now, to strengthen us ire the fight against t,he detested! Austrian, who thought not to find in the sons of Italy the virility of the'r forbears. For our fortune audi their disgrace, the Italians never fail: we are always the descendants of the ancient Romans who ruled the world, not only with arms, but with civ.Mitv that the German* never knew. We know that Tt»ly will win', because we, her sons, will so."

Speaking at the meeting of the council of the Auckland, Chamber of Commerce on the question of excess profits and other points embodied in the Finance Bill, the president, Mr E. Anderson, said he was glad to see'that the recommendations made to the Government .by the council had been considered by the Minister for Finance to be of sufficient importance to be embodied in the amendments now proposed to be inserted. There was only one exception, tnat relating to a proposed, war tax on exports, but, Mr Anderson added, that was not put forward as an amendment to the Finance Bill, but as a suggestion for providing revenue during the _ war neriod. The Finance Bill, as origmaljy introduced, had, Mr Anderson said aroused a storm of protest throughout the commercial community, and the criticism that had been aimed at the measure had resulted in it being materially amended arid improved. He thought the council had been very fairly met so far as the amendments' to the measure were concerned, and.' he did not think any further action, was now necessary, except to thank the Finance Minister' for embodying the resolutions. _ Mr Anderson stated that the executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce had interviewed the Finnace Minister when the resolutions forwarded by the council were submitted, A representative from Auckland would' have gone to Wellington, but for the fact that the notice received -did not admit of the necessary arrangements being made. — Herald.

"The more they give they more they want to give," ' has been said of the people here in connection with the various appeals made with invariabjy great success for funds for war and war relief purposes (writes a Sydney correspondent under date of 6th mst.) The latest justification for this observation has bee'ti given in Sydney by the amount of money collected through the sale of buttons 'for the benefit of the War Chest Fund, one of the most deserving funds of its class. Buttons of special design and manufacture were solti, some incold at a sovereign each, and' the others at a shilling apiece. An army of oyer 2000 workers, mostlv of the fair sex, saw to it on .War Chest Button Day, that very few accessible persons escaped from the opportunity, or obligation, to buy buttons. In addition there were vended and sold by auction- a lot of miscellaneus things given fo the good of the fund, but the amount already counted u.p and advices of returns on the way show that the day's work has yielded the fine result of about £30,000. As much as £SOO was given for a single gold button, which cost the organisers about four shillings and sixpence.