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Show SEC. BAKER SEES ITALIAN FROM ITALIAN ARMY HEADQUARTERS, Monday, April 1. (By the Associated I Press.) The American secretary of I war, Newton D. Baker, accompanied by the members of his staff, arrived at the Italian headquarters this morning He was joined here by Ambassador Thomas N. Page, who came from Rome, and Major General Eben Swift, .the head f ike American military mis- i sion to Italy. I The party proceeded to the su-i su-i promo command, where a handsome . villa was placed at the disposal of I the American secretary of war. Mr Baker and Mr. Page called on General i Diaz, the secretary remaining for an 'extended talk with the Italian com- mander in chief. Later. General Diaz entertained Sec-, Sec-, rrtary Baker, Ambassador Pagn and General Swift a1 luncheon The con-I con-I ference gave opportunity for an agreeable agree-able exchange of views, in which Gen-eral Gen-eral Diaz spoke in high terms of the American troops and Ambassador P ige referred to the strong bonds of fr.ondsbip existing between America and Italy and the desire of ihe United States to do eerythinK which would cutitribute u the winning of the common com-mon cause. Delayed by Weather. General Diaz desired to conduct Secretary Baker along the Plave river and mountain fronts, but the weather conditions did not permii it. This afterneen Secretary Baker and Ambassador Page met the Duke of Oosta, cousin of inp Victor Emmanuel at the headquarters of the Italian Third army, and later proceeded to Venice, where they saw the ext. nisi ni-si ve destruction caused by Teuton air raids and the admirable relief work directed by B H Carroll, the American Ameri-can consul at Venice, and the American Amer-ican Red Cross. Mr. Baker and Mr. Page departed tonight for Rome. VENICE, Monday. April 1 (By itho Associated Press.) The desolate condition of Venice. left o by the evacuation of two-thirds of it. popu- lation and the destruction of many of tno churches and buildlncs by aerial bombardments, was witnessed today I by Newton D. Baker, the American : i p-tarv of war Mr Baker and Thomas Nelson Page, the American ambassador, had stopped at the headquarters of the Third Italian Ital-ian armv on their way to Venice to , i on the Duke of Aosta, cousin of King Victor Emmanuel and com- I mander of the Italian forces on thr Plavs line. The meeting between the duke and Mr. Baker was most cordial, the duke personally explaining to the American secretary the present military mili-tary situation and the outlook. Conveyed to Venice. Admiral Marzolo, naval commandani ol Venice, sent his chief of staff and the admiral's barge to convey the American part to the city. The trip was through the Venetian la-oons which afforded a view of the region flooded by the Italian military engineers In order to hold back the enemv's advance. Arriving at Venice, Mr. Baker and Ambassador Page were escorted to the admiral's headquarters. The party then passed through the Grand canal to the Place San Marco and to tin City council chamber, whero the mayor of Venice. Count Cnmani. with the pre'eel and members of the Municipality, Munici-pality, extended the welcome el the Liiy. Count Grimani's address was a warm tribute to the United States and an acknowledgment of America's part in assisting Venice during the recent critical period. Later. Mr. Baker and party visited the Doges' palace, the Campanile and the Basilica of San Marco The secretary noted the defensive armor of sandbags with which all I these world monuments were covered. I He also went through the interior of the Doges' palace, now stripped of I most of its precious paintings and presenting pre-senting the appearance qf a citadel. After viewing the churches and other objectives of the aerial bombard -1 ment, Secretary Baker and Ambassa- ! dor Page left for Rome. Issues Statement. Regarding his impressions of Italy, Secretary Baker authorized the following fol-lowing statement : "I have been deeply interested in the military activity of the Italian army, and regret that log prevented my seeing see-ing the marvelous engineering work-constructed work-constructed by them in the ragged mountain country through which their line runs. Nothing could exceed the hospitality with which my visit has been received, and it has been made possible for me to se6 a great deal in .i short time. ' The relations between th Italian army and the people and the Americans Ameri-cans here is most sympathetic and cordial, and it gave me pleasure to express ex-press the appreciation of America for the splendid loyalty of Italy to the common Cause and to reciprocate the warm sentiments expressed everywhere every-where for America and Americans." i n |