Page:Cesare Battisti and the Trentino.djvu/25

 which would not consider the restitution, without compromise, of Alsace-Lorraine. But, and this meminisse juvabit, Italy, by her neutrality, accomplished the first determined acts of hostility against the Central Empires, asking for nothing, and at a moment when these countries were at the height of their power and she was altogether unprepared. We will now resume our theme.

Cesare Battisti came to Italy towards the end of August, 1914, together with his family, passing through, unobserved, on a train containing Italian immigrants that were returning home. He was no sooner in Italy than, first of all, he placed himself at the disposal of the Italian authorities, as well as all the valuable military material he had gathered in Trentino, his wide knowledge of localities and his valuable experience. He declared himself even ready to invade Austrian soil with armed bands of warm-hearted patriots for the purpose of provoking frontier incidents if such course was deemed useful to the furthering of Italian policies. But the moment had not yet come. Italy still had preparations to make, not only along military lines, but also in regard to her policies and the morale of the people.

To this work Battisti gave his whole soul, contributing the energies of his heart and of his oratory. He stumped in every Italian city of any importance. He welcomed objections — they added zest to his speeches and enhanced their didactic value. It was rather uphill work. Popular feeling against war ran high, and many interests were keen in keeping them so, either in good faith or in bad faith. In bad faith were the enemies of Italy, the open or secret agents of the Central Empires. In good faith were the other objectors, the upholders of the old Triple Alliance policy. They were to be feared as much as the faint-hearted and the hopeless kickers, who did not expect Italy to stand the burden of the war more than three months.

To this class of people addressed his sugared words; with them he tried to strike bargains; practising the very ancient trade of selling somebody else's wares, he offered Italy first a part of Trentino, then another one a Page twenty-three