OCR Text |
Show ITALY SALUTES Entrance Into War Reconfirms Recon-firms and Reseals Their Pact With Liberty. HOPE OF MANKIND Recalls Lincoln's Words, "This Nation, Under God, Shall Have New Birth of Freedom." ROME, via Paris, April 7. Gabriele D'Annunzio, the Italian poet, who is now serving at the front as a captain in the aviation corps, has issued tho following statement in connection with America's entrance into the war: "The group of stars on the great Republican banner has become a constellation, con-stellation, a propitious sign to sailors armed and unarmed and a spiritual token for all nations fighting in a righteous war. Italy salutes tho glorious glori-ous spirit which has led the people of the American union to re-confirm and re-seal their pact with liberty, "Italy, alone among the allied nations na-tions having tho possibility to avoid war and remain in inert spectator, arose freely in arms, not so much for tho reconquest of her heritage as for the salvation of all that which, in the centuries born of Rome, has represented repre-sented tho nobleness of free men. She armed herself, as the American nation does today, for an ideal reason and heroic claim. Her spontaneous act, like that achioved today by the people of George Washington, has the beauty of sacrifice offered to the hopes of mankind. Recalls Lincoln's Grand Words. "In this hope the American nation, from north, south, east and west, arises today to offer its accumulated treasure, acknowledging in our cause the finest cause for which men have ever fought. April 14 is the anniversary anniver-sary of Lincoln's death. From his sepulchre Issued the -rand words which has sacred lips pronounced in the cemetery of Gettysburg, on soil sanctified by the blood" of combatants. Again we hear Lincoln's great prophecy: " 'This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.' " |