"ALBERTO POLLIO (1852-1914), Italian general, was born at Caserta on April 21 1852. Before he was nine years old he entered the Naples military college, and he received his commission as a sub-lieutenant of artillery in April 1870. He served with distinction in various posts, and in June 1908 he was appointed chief of the Italian general staff, a position which he retained till his sudden death on July 1 1914. Pollio acquired a wide reputation as a writer on military subjects, his chief works being on Waterloo and Custozza. Both these books were translated into various languages.