. The American Red Cross in the great war . , as the destitute homeless women reached the desti-nations assigned to them, providing work for them thatwould occupy their time and afford a smaU were opened for the children where these warorphans could be taught, fed, and clothed. Soup kitchenswere inaugurated to give simple, sustaining food to thosewho, still laboring under the influence of that nightmareof panic-stricken flight, were trjdng to adjust themselvesto their new environment. In this practical way the RedCross went about its mission of relieving the wounds thatwar
. The American Red Cross in the great war . , as the destitute homeless women reached the desti-nations assigned to them, providing work for them thatwould occupy their time and afford a smaU were opened for the children where these warorphans could be taught, fed, and clothed. Soup kitchenswere inaugurated to give simple, sustaining food to thosewho, still laboring under the influence of that nightmareof panic-stricken flight, were trjdng to adjust themselvesto their new environment. In this practical way the RedCross went about its mission of relieving the wounds thatwar had caused to innocent women and children. TheItalians accepted it as an earnest pledge of America toshare a part of the great wars burden, and the morale of thepeople was strengthened as the morale of any one who issuffering is strengthened by the presence of a friend. Adding to the mental distress induced by her reversesand to the physical deprivation consequent upon the lossof two rich provinces, the winter of 1917-1918 fell upon Italy. THE STORY OF ITALY 211 with xinusual severity. There was snow in the streets ofRome and on the mountains, and in the plains the soldierssuffered from the intense, penetrating cold. It was a fore-gone conclusion that when the weather permitted in thespring the Austrians would resume their drive, for allthrough that dismal winter the invaders boasted con-fidently to the unhappy inhabitants left behind in theconquered district that they would go on to Rome beforethe trees were green again. The forces of the Austrianswere numerically superior by twenty-three divisionsand military commanders awaited with anxiety thatthreatened attack. Would their soldiers, their moraleinevitably weakened by a great defeat, be able to hold thePiave and the mountain passes, or would the enemy breakthrough and invade the Lombardy plains? No hmnanintelligence could answer those questions; and yet uponthe answer Italys fate depended. These were the conditions in Italy
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectworldwar19141918
