The Houston Post. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 296, Ed. 1 Friday, January 25, 1918 Page: 3 of 14
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.lORNINC JANUARY 25 .1918.
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Rout
Caused
By
Striki
2Vpf - Italian Troops
. Army of Peasants in the' Trexjches Is'Deteived by
Plotters Who'Announced.Peace--Men Agreed
; to 'Quit
; f THem-oseWr Betea
- y Newspapers to Aid Plan.
BV HERBERT COREY.
; ti PARIS .Dec. 13. The collapse of the
Italian army on October 23. 1917. was
ot the result of a military defeat. It
was a strike. The men of a vlctoriou
. army 'gowned tools." .
-That it could not have been aucceaafal
'. without a most comprehensive and well
' organised scheme of treachery is evident.
rBut this treachery' does not smirch the
" honor of the greater part of the very men
'Who threw down their (una and deserted
' their posts.
The treachery was "higher up."
Stories are told of bitter reproaches ad-
dressed by private soldiers to their of-
ficers. "You taught us to be cowards"
they cried. Officers were shot by their
r men. In many cases pertiaps In a roa-
Jorlty of cases this was the paying out
- of a 'private grudge for some of the Ital-
lan officers of today have not distin-
guished themselves by considerate treat-
ment of the men. But In many other in-
stances It was a tardy realization that
. through certain officers Italy had been be-
.trayed. . "I did not kill hiju. I executed him"
i Is the statement attributed to a peasant
soldier who was druniheaded for" the tnur-
der of an officer. "He told us to run when
we should have fought."
ITALIAN ARMY
COMPOSED OF PEASANTS.
The Italian army Is a peasant army so
. far as its private soldiers are concerned.
There is no braver more patient more
. enduring soldiery In the world. In my
opinion. The dark story of the October
debacle is brightened by Instances of
heroism no army could have bettered.
After such a defeat as no other army In
the war has experienced always saving
the Russians these gallant men have held
(i impossible lines by sheer heroism.
They are emntlnnnl. like all latins.
1 hey are perhaps iicklo. as their eitlcs
say. They are absolutely authenticated
tales of the days Immediately following
the ikbaote when the Italian government
covered the blank walls with posters call-
Ing upon the thousands upon thousands
of deserters to duty. They did without
: officers marching gayly through the
streets improvised flags flying wearing
the mien of conquerors;
"Yesterday we were deserters." thev
sang in the cheery Italian way. "Ttday
we go to take our vengeance."
But they must be well led and they
have not been well led of late. This and
other phases of the military conditions In
Italily during the latter half of the year
will be gone Into In time but for the mo-
ment the actual meohanism of the col-
lapse merits first attention. I have said
that it was a strike and not a defeat.
That statement challenges Inquiry.
The bulk of the Italian army are peas-
ants as I have said. Mingled through it
la a percentage of men who have worked
on contracts in Noith and South America
or at home and or workmen socialists
who are familiar with the mechanism of
Industry. For reasons which will be made
clear later the war had becomeintensely
distasteful to the army. To these men.
ignorant beyond our American under-
standing the natural way to escape sn
unpleasant contract or to better condi-
tions was to go on strike. Negotiations
were opened with Austrian regiments
which fronted the disaffected elements.
STRIKE BEGAN
IN STRANGE MANNER.
"We will quit and go home if you will"
is the naive manner In which the proposi-
tion was voiced.
The probability is that the" first sug-
gestion 'came from the Austrian side for
there is abundant evidence not only that
the Austrlans were aware through their
secret agents of the conditions existing in
the Italian army but that the plot was
actually devised in and behind the Italian
lines. It is rather obvious that the Italian
soldiery would respond more quickly to
touch a proposition coining from an enemv
than if it had been framed by a com-
rade. At all events the response was
forthcoming. For weeks perhaps for
months the men of the second army and
of certain elements of other armies open-
ly discussed this plan to throw down their
rllles und go home thus bringing tha
war to an end. It is incredi-
ble that general headquarters should
not have known of the existence of
this "strike" propaganda That General
Cadorna and other leaders were aware of
the -disaffection of their troops is certain.
It must be they did not realise the dan-
ger. During this period of incubation the
pro-peace traitors behind the line used
every means of propaganda possible.
"Peace has already come. Do not
throw away your life" was the cry in
thousands upon thousands of letters writ-
ten by peasant wives to peasant soldiers
borne one had told tWe women that peace
had been made. They were obviously
sincere. The peasant soldier was as Ig-
norant of world conditions and of war
conditions as his wife. His government
has carefully and efficiently seen to that.
The effect of such letters Is obvious.
. DECLARES ARMY IS
I SOUND AT HEART.
Before the story of the strike is told
rather as a preliminary to that story;
' emphasis must be laid on the fact that
; as the minister of war said in his unfor-
1 tunate statement "the Italian army is
i. round at heart." But the meaning Is' not
(. the meaning that he gave it.
Then there is what is called in Italy
; the "Vatican propaganda." This must
be gone Into In greater detail later on.
' For the moment it is sufficient to say
that while the unbiased observers in
Italy agree that the pope. himself is truly
r neutral and has net consciously sought a
peace which should benefit the central
empires some members of his entourage
s are known to be pro-German. Perhaps
tha same proportion of Italian priests
are pro-German that one could rind in
. tha ranks of Italian grocers. There are
other' honest God-fearing selfless men
; who did not look beyond their parish
walls. They were encouraged by propa-
gandlsts" to preach "The Holy Father's
i Peace."
That Is an appeal for peace which was
f built by propagandists upon tho-struc-vture
of the pope's latest peace letter.
fean!ngs were read into It that Its rev.
" Brand author certainly never intended. A
i "prayer chain" for peace covered all
Italy. No doubt nine-tenths of those who
.""prayed for "The Pope's Peace" were sln-
4 cere men and women who only hoped to
- put an end to bloodshed and to call back
the wanderers to their homes. But tha
effect upon the men In the trenches was
disastrous.
NEWSPAPERS FORGPEO
FOR SOLDIERS.
. Aa element of enemy propaganda which
plainly bean marks of enemy handiwork
was hi the distribution of forged news-
papers to the men in tha trenches the day
before the day set for the "strike." The
Corrlere Delia Sera and the GiornaJe
nulla are two of the most widely read
papers in Italy. One morning huge
bundles of newspapers came to moat of
the second army's trenches. Today It
Is said they were dropped by Austrian -airplanes.
A far more probable story is
that they came from behind the lines.
"The British cavalry raiding Naples and
shooting down women and children in the
streets. '
"French soldiers have sacked Turin and
have set Are to Genoa."
These were two of the stories printed in
these forged papers.
The imitation in paper and print was
so excellent as to completely deceive the
unskilled readers who picked out these
horrifying stories by the light of a flick-
ering campfire. .
Invariably the regiment from Sicily
heard that Sicilian homes were being in-
vaded and the regiment from Turin re-
ceived the papers which told of the mur-
ders in Turin. If there had been a doubt
before of the success of the "strike
propaganda these forged papers removed
It. The men were determined to go home
and see for themselves.
LAST RESISTANCE
IS TORN AWAY.
But there was no doubt before. The
lournalistic forgeries only removed the
last probability of resistance tq the ene-
my forces on the morninV of October 23.
it miv he that some of the Austrian ne
gotiators were sincere in their "go home
and end me war . pian. xnere are nm-
ians who believe they were. But they
were given no opportunity tp put it in ef-
The niaht before the day on wnicn me
collapse was to have taken place the ne-
gotiating Austrlans were quietly removed
from their irencnes. ineir putces wcro
filled with Germans to whom general or
ders had been issued instructing them
in tha nnnitinnn to be assaulted.
' ' it .. . am ii u rnnlrilv An nnmilhle" these
orders read. "You will meet with no re-
aintnnre."
On the morning of October Z3 we aupea
Italians threw down their arms and
greengray coluejins rushed forward along
tho grey-roaas oi me lutiian pubiiiuob.
The whole Italian army was outflanked
withdrawal became an imperative neces
sity. Before noon the retreat had become
a frantic rout.
Testimony Completed
In Trial of Mrs.'Ahlers
I Auooated Press Report.)
DALLAS Texas. Jan. 24. Taking of
testimony was completed Thursday after
noon in the trial of Mrs. Katie Ahlers
alias Mrs. Katherine Travers charged
with killing Phil E. Tucker last October
and arguments by counstl begun with In-
dications the case urobalilv will i:o to the
Jury tomorrow. Cross examination of
Mrs. Ahlers failed to materially shake her
story of the tragedy in which Miss Myrtle
Cunmnaham received a fatal wound.
The State introduced three witnesses
Wednesday in rebuttal the most impor
tant of whom was M. L. Richards who
occupied an office with Tucker. Klchardf
testified Mrs. Ahlers had teld him a few
days before the shooting thatTucker was
avoiding her and that he ww contemplat-
ing marrtage.
"He had better not marry" Mrs.
Ahlers said according to Richards.
"I am not going to let any other woman
have him.. When I start I am going to
clean out the whole bunch. I am going
to kill him If he don t see me. They don t
do anything with a woman tor killing
man."
Joe Tucker brother of Phil Tui:ke t js-
tified his brother had $400 of Mb own
money when he left Shrereport for Dal
las.
Will Moffitt private detective said he
had repeatedly advlsiid Mrs. Ahteis to
cease harassing Tucker.
Candy Supplies Cut
Off From U. S. Navy
Associated Press Report.)
WASHINGTON Jan. 24 -eDiscovery of
"Impurities" in candy supplied to can
teens of navy ships Thursday caused the
issue of an order suspending the sale of
candy to the men and also the purchase
or aaattonai supplies pending investigation.
Navy department officials were careful
not to say what the "impurities" were
but the announcement of the order Imme
diately caused a recurrence of the report
mat powaerea glass naa Deen discovered.
There was no contii'mation of this how
ever and no cases of sickness from eating
ine canay nave oeen reported.
It was merely stated that "Impurities"
had been discovered In candy sold to the
omcers and men and that while chemical
Investigation was determining what the
foreign substances were no more of the
stuff would be sold and no more would be
Dougnt tor tne supply.
So far as Is known this Is the first of
ficial action of Its kind pn a great crop of
reports or good poisoning by enemy plot
ters which have ranged from breakfast
foods to canned goods and now fllnally to
canay.
Littler's Successor Named.
lAiiocietea) Fret's Report.)
AUSTIN Texas. Jan. 24. Dr. T. B.
Fisher of Dallas today was appointed by
Governor Hobby a member of the State
board or neaitn to succeed Dr. w. D. Lit
tler resigned.
WhyBald
Dandraff a4
ItcUafaretlM
Cause U Moot
SoYo-
tUResami
Cutkura
8 9 Ma. QMat aad Be.
After Your Child Im 3 Years Old
Tbe sweet liquid laxatives oa tha market aiw prepared
especially for lofaoU and after a child reaches tba axe of
two or tore years it needs aometklar atroonr tbaa tha
weak amis laxatives now oa tha marlce.
LAX-FOS WITH PEPSIN fUU this loac-fett want.
It regulates tha bowels 'without griping or oJstsvbutx
tha stomach. A Liquid Digestive Laxative Pieant to Take
LAX-FOS -WITH PEPSCS '
Really Acts On Tha Liver
One of the principal ingredients ta LAX-POS WITH
PEPSIN la an extract of May Apple Root. Any pbwsictaa
will tell you that tha medicinal properties of May Apple
Root Is the only vettabU'known to Medical Science that
acta oa tho liver vary much like Calomel without tho
nauseatlnx effect of Calomel or risk of salivation. . There
' fore the May Apple Root Extract la this palatable liquid
makes It rood for any of the family who are bOlowa.
Oood for the Child nod for the mother good for
the Household. 00c per bottle. -
LAX-FOS WITH PEPSIN la mode and neooifiMaded
to thebubllc by PARIS MEDICINE COV Manufacturers
of LAXATIVE BROMO QUININB and OROVtrA TASTE
; L -
7
TeaRoom
Mezzanine
r Floor
A fine place' tor an af-
ternoon tea or noonday
luncheon. Try It
.Ki
oll'U
IMl
llJ
I . .. -
mm
The Store That Grows and Keeps Growing
J
PatriWcm
' Service t. :
Every morning from 8
.to 8:15. PnbUo cor-
dially Invited to at- '
tend. Come -v 'H.;'
1 '-
r 1 " sm
55c
Friday Specials!
Hosiery
80c Boot Silk Hose at 65c
Women's Full" Fashioned Hose
of finest boot silk; made with
highv spliced heel and double
sole; white and black only.
Special sale price a 55 C
75c Women's Outsize Hose
55c Exceptionally high grade
Lisle Hose in large sizes for .
stout women; white and black
only. Specially priced
during sale a pair. ....
50c Children's Lisle Hose 39c
In white tan black pink and
khaki; fine ribbed Hose of ex-
ceptional quality silk lisle; sell
Regularly at 50c a pair but on
sale at special price QQp
a pair 0 Jw
70c Lisle Hose at 55c Made
with reinforced heel and toe;
in colors white black brown
suede navy and pink; fine qual-
ity lisle. Sale price spe- CRa
cial a pair wJU
40c Women's Lisle Hose 3 for
$1.00 In white black and tan ;
surprising quality at this price ;
reinforced heel and toe. Spe
cial price 3 pairs
for
50c Boys' Ribbed Hose 39c In
sizes 8 to 10 in black; good
grade of Ribbed Hose that will
wear well and look well. 9Qn
Special a pair Wwu
35c Children's Socks 29c Fine
selected Silk Lisle Children's
Hose in white and black; in
sizes from 4 to 7lt only ; lay in
a supply at this reduced QQa
price; a pair vv
$1.00
Laces
$1.50 French Val at 98c a Dozen-
Fine French Val and Round Thread
Laces in all the newest and most at-
tractive patterns; all widths; sells
regularly at $1.50 a dozen; QQ
today 5J0C
$1.00 Dozen Matched Sets 75c
Splendid lot of Vals in Matched Sets
and odd Edges and Insertions.
Specially priced to sell at 7Rf
a dozen I ill
25c 35c and 39c Lace at 19c a Yard
Ventae and Filet Edges and Insertions
in cream and white; all dainty attrac-
tive patterns; especially attractive for
use in Georgette and crepe blouses. Spe-
cially reduced today to -if
a yard 15JC
Toilet Articles
25c Trailing Arbutus Talcum Powder 20c
25c Albolene Cold Cream 15c
25c Calox Tooth Powder. 20c
25c White Ivory Picture Frames 15e
25c Liquid Witch Hotel and Almond
Cream . 15c
50c Java Rice Face Powder.... 40c
60c Liquid Green Soap 35c
60c White Ivory Combs 39c
50c Liquid Nail Enamel 35c
75c Sylvan Toilet Water; Rose Vio-
let and Lilac 59c
ArtNeedlework
$1.95 Bed 8pread and Curtain Scrim $4.49
In white and ecru delicate floral de--slgns;
a beautiful material two yards
wide and usually sells at $1.95 a 1 in
yard. Special a yard .. Ie4f
50c Stamped Bath Towela 39c Large
site stamped In simple design for colored
embroidery; sell regularly. at 60c kQ
Special price C
Curtains Draperies
Plain ffep and Madras In greens blue
brown and rose; 36-inch materials excep-
tionally attractive. Special price JT
for today a yard UlC
White Curtain Swiss Extra fine quality
in white all slse dots full 36 Inches wide.
Specially priced tor today r
a yard v.. oC
O-Cedar Mep Large site triangular
shape with 4-foot hardwood handle. Spe-
cially priced today at i ia
each $1111
Leas 10 per cent for cash.
Shade A few dosen 8hades 38 inches
wide; some six! soma seven feet long;
slightly Imperfect; while they last if -specially
priced each............ juC
$5 and $6.50 Silk Blouses
$3.49
Exceptionally attractive Crepe de Chine
Blouses in white flesh navy bladf yellow
etc.; all new styles; fine quality and usually
sell at $5.00 and $6.50 each. djQ JA
Special price for today only wOfTv
Blouses at $1.98 Fresh crisp Blouses of fine lawns and organdies in
fine selection of different styles and models; you will like d. AO
them. Special price today at each tD JLetO
Muslinwear Specials Today
A splendid lot of fine immaculate White Undermuslins of surprising
quality at the prices mentioned below Corset Covers Open and Closed
Drawers Knee Length and Full Length Petticoats Gowns Teddies etc. ;
are shown in a distinctive lot of trimmings of laces and embroideries. We
have divided them into three groups and are featuring special prices
for today.
Group 1 75c garments at 59c
Group 2 98c garments at 75c
Group 3 $1.49 garments at 95c
Muslinwear Department Third Floor
Neckitiear at 75c
Attractive assortment .of Collars and
Collar and Cuff Sets in fine satins
Georgette crepes selected organdies
and crepe de chine; lace and embroid-
ery trimmings; white also colored
included at this special 7Rp
price Iw
Neckwear at 25c Splendid lot of
Dainty Collars and Collar and Cuff
Sets in fine selected organdies ; white
with beautiful lace and embroidery
trimmings. Special 25 C
Silks
$2.50 Fancy Silks at $1.69 36-inch
Fancy Stripe Serge Taffetas in street
and afternoon shades; only a limited
lot but while it lasts extra tfl PQ
special a ard 'pli0j
$1.25 Black Messaline at 88c Good
quality Black Messaline 36 inches
wide. Specially priced at only 00 p
a yard 00L
S1.50 Black Chiffon Taffeta at $1.10 Splen-'
did lot of this popular material in 36-inch
width. Special at (Nl A
a yard iplslU
Odd Lot Fane Silks $2.00 Grade at $1.19
Fancy Silks 30 and 36-inch Chiffon Taffetas
in plaids stripes checks etc; only a lim-
ited lot but in splendid assortment of col-
ors ; as long as it lasts special & Q
a yard v 1 v
$2.50 Gloves $1.35
Fine Kid Gloves In plain- white and
white with contrasting color stitch;
only in sizes 7 to 8 inclusive; large
sizes; very special price at fljl 0C
a pair $ liJU
$1.25 and $1.50 Camoisejte Gloves 85c
In white 16-button plain or
with' black stitch. Specially QRn
priced at a pair.. Uuu
$1.00 White Silk Gloves 55c Plain
white 2-button silk in all sizes. CC
Special today price a pair Juu
Staples Linens
15c Apron Gingham 12c 27-inch in
small and medium checks blue and
brown only. Specially priced at 10p
a yard
25c Kimono Flannelettes 19c Good
assortment of colors in attractive floral
designs. Specially priced at 1Q
a yard vu
$1.20 Bleached Sheets 98c Hemmed and
ready for use; soft finish; "Munn's Special
$1.20 Sheet" 72x90. Specially QQ-
priced 70C
65c Mercerized Damask 49c 64 inches wide
good heavy quality in large assortment of
patterns; regular 65c value; AOs
a yard iC-
$1.95 Crochet Bed Spreads $1.69 Large size.
76x88 inches; extra good heavy Q
weight Special each 9ls0f
Two-Day Clearance Sale of Fine
New Sewing Machines
-
Two
Days
Only
Today
and
ROTARY Saturday
SE17ING C1ACHIHES
To make room for new stocks that are already en route we are offering
the exceptional reductions below today and Saturday. This is probably the
last chance that you will have for years to come to buy these high grade
Machines at such unparalleled reductions. Buy now and save materially
on your purchase.
Entire Stock in Two Big Groups
fMtn 1 ft ??Q Seven different models that
UlUUp A Ul pOF sell regularly at $47.50 to
$65.00. Specially reduced price and on easy QQ flfl
terms choice JOjiUU
f-wswm O r4- QOQ Six different models with
$35.00
choice
regular prices ranging from
up to $4.00. Clearance Sale price
$29.00
EVERY MACHINE FULLY GUARANTEED TO GIVE ENTIRE
SATISFACTION. Thirteen Different Styles to Choose From.
Essy Terms. Free Instruction. Second Floor.
Friday Specials!
Millinery
$
feXo)
Sniart
Ready-to- Wear and
Trimmed Hats v
Usually Sell at $5.00
Just 100 of Them
Wonderfully smart well made
New Millinery of excellent
quality offered at this exceed-
ingly moderate price; Military t
Effects Mushrooms Roll Brim '
Sailors Side Rolls Large and
Medium Sailors smart close
fitting models ; all of them fash-
ioned of the newest materials
and Vmmed with jaunty rib-
bon cockades straws chenille
beaded ornaments etc.; splen-
did choice of black and colors.
No imore attractive Hats at
more than twice the price.
While they last today
Choice
$2
Choice
Embroideries
25c Flouncing at 19c 18-inch Em-
broidered Flouncing in fine nain-
sook only; dainty scalloped edges;
sell regularly at 25c a yard. 1 Dp-
Special 'IjU.
69c Camisole Embroideries 49c
Dainty Camisole Embroideries in
floral patterns wide beading and
dainty edges; very pretty and AQ
specially priced today a yard Tmw
15c and 19c Edges and Insertions
10c One lot of Edges and Inser-
tions. in Swiss and Nainsook Em-
broideries; some are in dainty baby
patterns; others in 4 and 5-inch
Edges in floral and conventional pat-
terns; usually sell at 15c and 19c a
yard; today special at 1fl
a yard v . I UU
Housefurnishings
Toilet Paper 7 rolls Crepe Paper; Of
sells regularly at 5c a roll eCOC
Brooms Exceptional quality 4 -string Par-
lor Brooms fine straw; 75p value; CQ
sells today at UfC
Wall Brushes $1.25 kind; can bo washed
and cleaned; long and short A(J
handles. Special today only at.. dC
Garbage Cans Strong ball and- tight
fitting lids; sell usually at $1.75 each
but today specially priced jIC
each v. plX)
Cooking Sets Consisting of 11 pieces
fireproof ed white lined; exceptional
value at $1.50. Specially priced Af
for today at .' fDC
Slop Jars White enamelware with tight
fitting lids; extra heavy; $1.75 value.
Specially priced for Af ass
today sPle)
Aluminum 8aucepna Extra heavy kind.
In the three-quart size; sell usually at 75o
each but today specially priced fJ0
GolcondaDiamonds
Demonstration will soon iw
close and It will be too
late to purchase of the '
stock shown here. Until
that time a DI8C6UNTi
OF 10 PER CENT will be I
featured on many of the!
articles offered. - Latest'
designs Jn Earrings Pend
ants La Vallleres Brooches Scarf Pins
Cuff Links etc. are shown at exception-
ally attractive prices. These articles Can
only be 'purchased through 'these special
factory demonstration sales.
1
V M t:h - a 9 Join our Model Airplane Contest today. Go to fourth floor and register and then get ?;
Jj(fJUj jLl busy and make and enter a model. We are offering handsome prizes. Do it now!
i
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The Houston Post. (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 296, Ed. 1 Friday, January 25, 1918, newspaper, January 25, 1918; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth610072/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .