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Show ITALIANS ADMIRE AMERICAN SPIRIT Soldier Hailed as "Crusaders for the Holy War" by War Correspondent. REMARKABLE ARMY Gigantic Preparations Made in Short Time Astonishing to Overseas People. WASHINGTON, July 24. Italian writers who have visited tho American Ameri-can army In France are deeply impressed im-pressed not only by tho spirit of the soldiers themselves but by tho gigantic gigan-tic preparations that have been made for their transport and supply. American Amer-ican terminals have been built at Mediterranean Med-iterranean ns well as at Atlantic ports j of France and are constantly being enlarged. en-larged. Tho Americans are hailed as "Crusaders "Cru-saders for the holy war," in aa article published in the II Secolo Xix, of Genoa, and written by a correspondent correspond-ent of the Glornale d'ltalia of Rome. The article, as translated and made public today by the stato department, says: "Tho American intervention Is not a formula, a hope, a promise; It Is a reality, in all Its forms. Wonderful Organization. "Tho organization for transforming and receiving tho great army is already al-ready complete for tho actual needs and Is being completed for those of the future. The building of wartime bases, of railways, Immense stores of arms, food, munitions, coal, medicines, petrol, pe-trol, etc., nro in some cases finished and In others nearing completion; the organization is gradually, broadening out; from the ocean It has today passed pass-ed to the Mediterranean, to tho south of France and along tho coast other works aro being begun. "Summing up in few words my Impressions, Im-pressions, I would say: 'I did not believe be-lieve that tho Americans could have done so much, but, after having seen it, I am able to believo that they will do much more and will obtain their aims. American Army a Phenomenon. "h would define the American army as a revealing phenomenon. The speeches, tho thoughts of tho officers and soldiers are surprising; it is not simply an army which goes into line, not merely soldiers who make ready to fight, it is a people in arms which lands from across the ocean; sure of its thought, confident of its own deed, like a knight in helmet and breastplate approaching to study the magic of an enchanted Island. Strong Faith of Crusaders. "They believe. They come with the psychology of the crusaders, conscious of a great task, decided to. accomplish It to avenge wrongs and right them. "The French cry aloud: 'Oh, the Boches, we shall have them.' The Americans Am-ericans repeated quietly: 'We will destroy de-stroy them.' And they do not raise their voices. They believe; they have persuasion, faith. For them it is a question of time. This persuasion is nourished by the faith which they have In their own country; it is a pride; they feel that they are a great people, in its great hour; they are sure of having all gold, means, leaders, raw materials, organizers." |