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"Italy and America have a common path; it is up to you young men to follow it," declared General Armando Diaz, commander-in-Chief of the Italian armies during the recent war, in concluding his brief address to the students of the University assembled yesterday afternoon in the Living Room of the Union. "Let us always keep alive in our hearts the spirit of Dante. You appreciate Dante and Italy; we appreciate you; the young men of both countries must point out the common way".
Introduced by President Lowell as the man who achieved what the Allies believed impossible-halting an army in full retreat, and hurling back the oncoming Austrians,--General Diaz, speaking through an interpreter, praised the ideals and spirit of the two countries, and urged closer association in the future in their common ideals.
"You know that Italy entered the war spontaneously; that she have all she had for the success of the war; that in eleven battles, from the snow-capped mountains to the sea, she held back the Austrians for two years; and at a moment when her fate seemed desperate, won a great victory on the Piave. These achievements were based on the souls of her men, and above all on the moral strength of her people, who in two thousand years have given three civilizations to the world.
"It was the young men, who came from country and city, with all the pride of their race, who, veterans from the first, inspired a new sprit into the army, and gave their lives for an ideal. I saw in your library photographs of your comrades who fell in the war. Our Italian universities have similar exhibitions. These young men who gave their youth for a faith, are the foundation of the future civilization, and a greater era.
"You young men have a sacred heirloom, in the blood shed and treasure spent in your country's defence. Do not fall to abide by it. It is for you to make your country great and happy. Your boys rose like one man for this country, just as ours did. You and we entered the war for the principle of idealism; and came out of it without grievances and without possessions. These facts form a common bond between us. Among you are many Italian students and I hope that in the future American students will come to Italy in increasing numbers. I bring to you the greetings of Italian youth, and wish to carry back the greetings of American youth to them, not only as an affirmation of the past, but also the greater affirmation of the common future."
General Diaz arrived for his visit to the University at 4.20, ten minutes ahead of his schedule, and was escorted to Widener Memorial Library, where the general's salute of 17 guns was fired by a battery of the University Field Artillery Unit, stationed in front of the Library steps. Accompanied by President Lowell, Mr. Lane, University Librarian, and members of the Faculty, General Diaz and his staff visited the Reading Room and the Treasure Room, where a collection of war medals is on exhibition. After a short stop at President Lowell's home, General Diaz went directly to the Union, where a large number of students awaited him
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