Page 39 - The Secret War in the Italian front in WWI (1915-1918)

CHAPTER TWO

The 1882 reforM and The oPeraTIon TheaTres
One of the most important steps in the evolution of the Intelligence activities of the Italian army
was the adoption of the new doctrine conceived and implemented by the German General Moltke
the Elder, who put an end to the previously lack of military intelligence strategies and planning
during both war and peace times. The Prussian victories in the 1866 and 1870-1871 wars clearly
revealed the essential role of the General Staff’s preparatory work during peacetime for achieving
successful results in war.
This main innovation happened in the Italian army thanks to the 1882 reform that established a
real technical-military leadership through the creation of the position of the Chief of the Army
Staff, directly under the authority of the Minister of War, with the responsibility of preparing
mobilisation/mustering plans, and organising operations against the enemies . General Enrico
15
Cosenz, first Chief of Staff, remained on duty until 1893. Although the defeat in the Third Italian
War of Independence was generally ascribed to the inadequacies of the High Command, it took
sixteen years to approve a radical reorganisation of the Army leadership, matching basic and
urgent requirements. Before 1882, the Italian army General Staff Corps, under the authority of
the Secretary-General of the Ministry of War, had no real directive and executive responsibilities.
The Chief of the Army Staff, now responsible for war plans, was assisted by a General Staff Corps,
under his direct authority, and supported by a second-in-command and by a Generale Addetto
(General in Charge), who headed the Office of the Chief of Staff as well as the 1 and 2 Division.
st
nd
The 1 Division, in charge of preparing offensive and defensive war plans, consisted of four
st
Offices, among which the first three were tasked with studies, monitoring and intelligence for
the so-called Scacchieri (Theatres). The Eastern Theatre entrusted to Office I included Austria,
Hungary, Germany, and Russia; the Western Theatre managed by Office II embraced France,
Switzerland, Belgium, and England; Southern Theatre of Office III dealt with the Mediterranean
countries, except for France and Austria-Hungary .
16
Thereby, the Information branch of the General Staff Corps was significantly enhanced by upgrading
to the level of Office the disbanded Sections of the Military Office, while the Intelligence Section
was incorporated into the Office of the Chief of the Army Staff. However, new names given to the
intelligence bodies of the Headquarters of the General Staff Corps did not change the substance
of their work since they continued to perform the activities of the Military Office and its sections,
as noted by General Agostino Ricci, second-in-command of the Corps, who also submitted some

proposals for the reorganisation of intelligence activities .
17
In his opinion, the commanders of the Army Corps stationed at the borders had to establish trans-
boundary relations by employing numerous human resources such as mountain troopers, customs
officials, Carabinieri, etc. According to him, some officers operating since peacetime:

near the borders should collect, check, and select information to draw maximum benefit for the
intelligence system. Among the many uses of homing pigeons, ordered by a recent ministerial
circular, their employment fort those tasks could be included.

15 The Law no. 831 of 29 June 1882 established the post of Chief of the Army Staff. Similar tasks were previously assigned
to the President of the General Staff Committee, who chaired the Committee and supervised all the studies concerning the
defence of the State before submitting them to the scrutiny of the Minister of War, as for Royal Decree of 7 May 1874.
16 Ministry of War, Norme di servizio pel Comando del Corpo di Stato Maggiore (Service Instructions for the Officers of the
General Staff Corps) Roma, 25 October 1882, AUSSME, Series L-3, env. 298 - 296. Office IV was responsible for keeping
the accounts of the General Staff Corps. The Military Geographical Institute was also under the authority of the 1 Division.
st
17 Letter no. 40, 20 December 1882, by General Ricci, AUSSME, G-24.7 Series, env. 3.

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