But though we feel this as strongly as any critics
of the Italians, we refuse absolutely to condemn or to insult a great, a generous, and a friendly people because a portion of their army has not come well out of an ordeal of a kind almost unprecedented in modern warfare. The manner in which certain pseudo-humanitarians have thought it neces- sary to speak of the Italians would, if anything could, tempt us to palliate the barbarities that took place in the oasis. There
must be justice and common sense even in the sternest con- demnation. In a week so crowded with events we cannot find space to say more on the matter, but we should like to refer our readers to the excellent and well-balanced letter of the Times correspondent, to be found in Wednesday's issue. The facts are there summed up by an eye-witness who writes with a true sense of justice as well as with a true sense of humanity.
