ITALIAN MAN-POWER.
[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR...1
SIR,—In view of certain erroneous statements which have appeared in a portion of the British Press with regard to the 'lumbers and age of Italian troops who have been called to the colours, we beg to submit for your information the following details, which may be regarded as authentic.
At the outbreak of war between Austria and Italy all Italians subject to military service between the ages of twenty and thirty- eight inclusive were under arms. In other words, all classes from that of 1877 to that of 1895—inclusive—were with the colours. In September, 1915, the class of 1876 was recalled to the colours; that is, all men who had reached thirty-nine years of age. In November, 1916, those of class 1876 who had been rejected on medical grounds were called up for re-examination. In January, 1917, the classes of 1874 and 1875 were recalled to the colours; that is, all men who had reached the age of forty-three years. As regards the younger classes, the levies were as follows: At the begin- ning of the war all boys of twenty years were with the colours. In September, 1915, the class of 1896 was called. In August, 1916, the class of 1897, and at the end of 1916 the class of 1898, were enrolled. In January, 1917, the men of all classes between 1874 and 1898 who had been previously rejected on medical grounds were called up for re-examination. On May, 1917, those boys who had been born in the first half of 1899 were enrolled in the Army; and in September, 1917, those who were born in the second half of the same year were enrolled. You will therefore see that in Italy all men from the ages of eighteen to forty-four are serving in the Army. In all, there have been 4,800,000 men enrolled since the beginning of the war. The new revision of all rejected men, which takes place this month, affects 800,000 men; but, of course, not all these are fit to bear arms. We might also state that in the four millions odd enrolled must be counted railwaymen, dock-hands, munition hands, &c., who are all under military control and considered as soldiers. Therefore the actual numbers in the fighting-lines are not so large as might at first appear.— Thanking you again for your kind consideration, and assuring you that we appreciate largely the sympathetic attitude of your journal towards Italy, we are, Sir, &c.,
THE ITALIAN INFORMATION BUREAU. Hastings House, Norfolk Street, Strand, W.C. 2, December 24th.
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