ITALY'S VERDUN.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14642, 21 February 1918, Page 2

ITALY'S VERDUN.

j At the resumption of the public-sit-tings of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, after mating in secret committee for five days, Altieri^ the Minister for War, said: —"it is nece&sarj' to rnpeat in public what has been-sale1, in the secret committee concerning our brave, soldiers1 now^ fighting between the Brenta: and the for whom our admiration is ' continually increasing. What is happening -there is simply marvellous, and the extent of their heroic defence has .been underestimated rather \than exaggerated. It has been : said 'that Mount;Grappa is our •Verdun. ;Tlus comparison in itself is a glory. -Tho youngest sons of Italy have been .for .many days victoriously opposing in, hastily improvised positions and in iieroic counter-attacks the best troops pf the enemy flushed with victory arid superior in numbers. Uur country is now inscribing up there with .the blood of its soldiers the most glorious pages in the history of the world. Permit me to send in yo\irname and in the name of the country "£he whole- ! hearted gratitude and admiration of i Italy to thp glorious Fourtii Army, to i the heroic defenders or the Piave and the Asiago plateau, to the troops of tho allies now in the line and fighting side by side with our own soldiers, and i also to our brave commander-in-chief."