File No. 763.72/5790
The Ambassador in Italy (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8.24 p.m.]
1028. Memorandum received from Minister Bissolati who called on me yesterday states, after prefacing, that following not question of special favor Italy, but of great importance common interest Entente; that great military effort should be made on the Carso front whence enemy’s weakest point attainable. He believes American troops on Italian front would, be useful; states this also Cadorna’s opinion. He recognizes, however, difficulties of sending Italians and feels that if possible they should be required to fulfill duty to their own country but believes that rule might be adopted that when enrolled in United States Army Italy might consider this as equivalent to Italian service. Believes that most important help on the Italian front possible from America would be sending heavy artillery. Also believes it important that American technical commission come to study Italian types of flying machines. Considers fleet of flying machines should be built on lines six-hundred-horsepower Caproni machine which can carry three metric tons of high explosives. Sonnino has also spoken of need of more heavy artillery.