CHAPTER I:
Marching orders — I leave for Rome
— Paris via Folkestone and Boulogne in war time — My campaigning
kit — The war-correspondent's list- — Quaint item — Travelling "
light" — A box of choice Havanas — Boulogne to Paris ;
well-intentioned ladies and their " Woodbines " — The one and
only cigarette — Paris to Turin — Curious order on train —
Method and prescience — Few soldiers on route — Arrival in Rome
— A cheap room — No sign of excitement in streets — 23rd May —
Excitability of the Italian no longer noticeable — Rome
unruffled — The declaration of war — On the Corso Umberto that
evening — The Cafe Aragno — National stoicism — The Day —
Business as usual — — The general mobilisation — A triumph of
organization — At the War Office
CHAPTER II:
My credentials — The War Zone —
Italy's preparedness — The Press Censorship — General Elia's
advice — Disappointment — A pipe in the Pincio — An inspiration
— I leave for Venice — Venice in war time — The lonely pigeons
of the Place St. Marc — The Doge's Palace — The bronze horses —
Interior of St. Marc, strange spectacle — First act of war
between Italy and Austria — Aeroplane bombs Venice — French
Aviators — Treasures of Venice — Everyday life in Venice during
daytime — After nightfall — On the qui Vive — Extraordinary
precautions — Dangers of the streets — Spy fever — Permis de
sejour — The angry crowd — Defences against air attacks — Venice
not a place forte — Nearest point of the Front — The British
Vice-Consul, Mr. Beak — A good Samaritan — The letter of
credentials — The Commandant of Venice — More advice — New
Rescript of the Generalissimo — Reference to Correspondents —
Decide attempt go to Udine — The language difficulty — The
waiter at the Hotel Danielli — His offer to accompany me — Make
arrangements at once — Introduced to Peppino Garibaldi — Amusing
incident
CHAPTER III:
From Venice to Udine — Reservists
rejoining — Interesting crowd — Delays en route — Endless
procession of military trains — Drawn blinds — The Red Cross
train — Arrived Udine — Scene on platform — In search of an
hotel — A little incident — The well-dressed civilian — The
obliging guide — My suspicions — Awkward questions — The best
hotel in Udine — A little "Trattoria " close by — A cheap room —
First impressions of Udine — At the Police Office — The permis
de sdjour — The Carabinieri and the local police — The
fascination of the big guns — The " Military Commandant of Udine
" — A difficult proposition — The luck of the undelivered letter
— -My guide has to leave me — I change my quarters — The Hotel "
Tower of London " — Alone in Udine — An awkward predicament — A
friend in need — Still more luck — Dr. Berthod — I am offered a
studio — I accept — The delight of having this studio in Udine
CHAPTER IV:
The wonderful system on which
everything was worked — Udine " the Front " — The commencement
of hostilities — The 24th May — The first day of operations
auspicious for Italy — Redemption of the province of Friuli —
New Italian Front — Cormons — The inhabitants of Italian origin
— A good practical joke — The moral of the troops —
Unpretentious attempts at wit — High spirits of the men — The
road from Udine to Cormons — Wonderful sight — Italian flags
everywhere — A mystery where they came from — Wild triumphant
advance of the Italian troops — Women kiss the ground — But a
lever de rideau — Italians cross the Isonzo — Austrians on Monte
Nero — Monte Nero — The capture of Monte Nero — Incredible
daring of the Alpini — The story of the great achievement —
Number of prisoners taken- — The prisoners brought to Udine
Their temporary prison — The tropical heat — An ugly incident —
Austrian attempt to re-take Monte Nero — Success follows success
— Capture of Monfalcone and Gradisca ; Sagrado and Monte Corrada
— Commencement of the attack on Gorizia — Subjects for my sketch
book — Touches of human nature — High Mass in the- mountains —
The tentes d'abri — Cheerfulness of men in spite of all
hardships
CHAPTER V:
Udine the Headquarters of the Army
— The King — His indefatigability — His undaunted courage — A
telling incident — The King with the troops — Love and sympathy
between Victor Emanuele and the men — Brotherhood of the whole
Army — A pleasant incident — Men salute officers at all times —
Laxity shown in London — Cohesion between rank and file — The
Italians Of to-day — The single idea of all — Udine crowded with
soldiers — The military missions of the allied nations — Big
trade being done — Orderly and sedate crowd — Restaurants — The
food — The market place — The Cinemas — Proximity of the
fighting — The Cafe "Dorta" — Pretty and smartly-dressed women —
An unexpected spectacle — The Military Governor — The streets at
night — Precautions against "Taubes " — The signal gun —
-Curiosity of inhabitants — No excitement — Udine a sort of
haven — I remain there six weeks — A meeting with the British
Military Attaché, Colonel Lamb — My stay in Udine brought to an
abrupt ending — The police officer in mufti — Am arrested —
Unpleasant experience — An agent de la Surete — At the police
station — The commissaire — Result of my examination — Novara —
Magic effect of the undelivered letter again — I write to
General Cafarelli — My friends at the " Agrario " — General
Cafarelli — His decision — The third class police ticket for the
railways — Packed off to Florence — The end of the adventure
CHAPTER VI:
Florence in war time — War
correspondents to visit the Front — I receive a letter from Mr.
Capel Cure of the Embassy — Return to Rome — Signor Barzilai,
Head of Foreign Press Bureau — I am officially " accepted " —
Correspondents to muster at Brescia — Rome to Brescia via Milan
— The gathering of the correspondents — Names of those present —
Papers represented — The correspondent's armlet — Speech of
welcome by General Porro — Plan of journey announced —
Introduced to officers of Censorship — To leave war zone a
conclusion of tour of Front — " Shepherding " the correspondents
— Censorships established at various places — Correspondents'
motor cars — Clubbing together — Car-parties — My companions —
Imposing array of correspondents' cars — National flags —
Cordiality amongst all correspondents and Censors —
Good-fellowship shown by Italians — Banquet to celebrate the
occasion
CHAPTER VII:
Brescia — Rough sketch of
arrangements — A printed itinerary of tour — Military passes —
Rendezvous on certain dates — The " off-days " — Much latitude
allowed — We make a start — Matutinal hour — First experience of
freedom of action — Like schoolboys letloose — In the valley of
Guidicaria — First impression of trenches on mountains — A
gigantic furrow — Encampments of thousands of soldiers — Like
the great wall of China — Preconceived notions of warfare upset
— Trenches on summits of mountains — A vast military colony —
Pride of officers and men in their work — Men on " special "
work — " Grousing " unknown in Italian Army — Territorials —
Middle aged men — " Full of beans " — Territorials in first line
trenches — Modern warfare for three-year olds only — Hardy old
mountaineers — Heart strain — The road along Lake Garda —
Military preparations everywhere — War on the Lake — The
flotilla of gun-boats — The Perils of the Lake — A trip on the "Mincio"
gun-boat — I make a sketch of Riva A miniature Gibraltar —
Descenzano — Nocturnal activity of mosquitoes — Return to
Brescia — Something wrong with the car — Jules Rateau of the
Echo de Paris — Arrange excursion to Stelvio Pass — A wonderful
motor trip — The Valley of Valtellino — The corkscrew road —
Bormio — The Staff Colonel receives us — Permits our visiting
positions — Village not evacuated — Hotel open — Officers' table
d'hote — We create a mild surprise — Spend the night at hotel
CHAPTER VIII:
On the summit of the Forcola — We
start off in " military " time- — Our guide — Hard climbing —
Realize we are no longer youthful — Under fire — Necessary
precautions — Our goal in sight — An awful bit of track —
Vertigo — A terrifying predicament — In the Forcola position — A
gigantic ant-heap — Unique position of the Forcola — A glorious
panorama — The Austrian Tyrol — The three frontiers — Shown
round position — Self-contained arsenal — Lunch in the mess room
-Interesting chat — The "observation post" — The goniometre —
Return to Bormio — Decide to pass another night there — An
invitation from the sergeants — Amusing incident
CHAPTER IX:
From Brescia to Verona — Absence
of military movement in rural districts — Verona — No time for
sightseeing — The axis of the Trentino — Roveretto, the focus of
operations — Fort Pozzachio — A " dummy fortress " — Wasted
labour — Interesting incident — Excursion to Ala — Lunch to the
correspondents — Ingenious ferryboat on River Adige — The Valley
of the Adige — Wonderful panorama — " No sketching allowed " —
Curious finish of incident — Austrian positions — Desperate
fighting — From Verona to Vicenza — The positions of Fiera di
Primiero — Capture of Monte Marmolada — The Dolomites — Their
weird fascination — A Striking incident — The attempted suicide
— The Col di Lana — Up the mountains on mules- — Sturdy Alpini
Method of getting guns and supplies to these great heights — The
observation post and telephone cabin On summit — The Colonel of
Artillery — What it would have cost to capture the Col di Lana
then — The Colonel has an idea — The idea put into execution —
The development of the idea — Effect on the Col di Lana — An
object lesson — The Colonel gets into hot water — The return
down the mountain — Caprili — Under fire — We make for shelter —
The village muck-heap — Unpleasant position — A fine example of
coolness — The wounded mule — An impromptu dressing
CHAPTER X:
Belluno — Venadoro in the heart of
the Dolomites — A fine hotel — Tame excursions — Visit to
Cortina d'Ampezzo — Austrian attempts to recapture it — 3051ml.
guns on the Schluderbach — Long range bombardment — Austrian
women and children in the town — Italians capture Monte
Cristallo — Aeroplanes and observation balloons impossible here
— Tofana in hands of Italians — Serenity of garrison — Cortina
d'Ampezzo — General invites us to a dejeuner — Living at
Venadoro — Delightful camaraderie — Evenings in the big saloon —
From Belluno to Gemona — Description of Front in this Sector —
Our excursion to Pal Grande — The road — On mules up the
mountain — A warning — Rough track — Peasant women carrying
barbed wire up to the trenches — Pay of the women — Much
competition for " vacancies " — The climb from Pal Piccolo to
Pal Grande — A wonderful old man — " Some " climb — The
entrenched position on Pal Grande — Spice of danger — Violent
artillery duel — The noise of the passing shells — Magnificent
view — Timau — The Freikoffel — Its capture by the Alpha —
Wounded lowered by ropes — Capture of Pal Grande — Presence of
mind of a doctor — A telling incident — Extraordinary enthusiasm
of the troops — Food convoys — The soldier's menu — Daily
rations — Rancio ; the plat du jour — Officers' mess
arrangements — An alfresco lunch on Pal Grande — The " mess room
" — " Pot Luck " — A wonderful meal — A stroll round the
position — An improvised bowling-alley — Use is second nature —
In the trenches — A veteran warrior — The pet of the position —
Gemona — The list of lodgings — My landlady — Good restaurants
in Gemona — The Alpini quartered there — The military tatoo in
the evenings — Reception by the Mayor — A delightful week
CHAPTER XI:
Gemona to Udine — Final stage of
official journey — Regrets — Arrival at Udine — List of
recommended lodgings — My room — My landlady an Austrian woman —
I pay my respects to General Cafarelli — My friend Dr. Berthod —
My old studio at the Agrario — The Isonzo Front — Many rumours —
Off on our biggest trip ; 245 kilometres in the car — Roads
excellent and well-looked after — A great change — Cormons quite
an Italian town — Same with other towns in conquered territory —
Observatory on Monte Quarin — A splendid bird's-eye view — The
plain of Friuli — Podgora — The Carso — The hum of aeroplanes —
The Isonzo Sector — The immense difficulties — Received by the
General — A pleasant gouter — Lieutenant Nathan, Ex-Mayor of
Rome — The Subida lines of trenches — Explanation of Italian
successes everywhere — Caporetto via Tolmino — A desolate region
— Road along the Isonzo — The mighty limestone cliffs of Monte
Nero — The great exploit of its capture recalled — One mountain
road very much like another — Nothing to sketch — Perfect
organ-Mil ion — The fog of dust — Caporetto — Not allowed to
motor beyond — Important strategic operations — Monte Rombom —
Difficulty to locate Austrian guns — A glimpse of Plezzo — The
situation here — Excursion to Gradisca via Palmanova, a
semi-French town — Romans — Curious rearrangement of cars — Only
two allowed proceed to Gradisca under fire — The Italian
batteries at work - The deserted streets — The " observatory "
room The iron screens — View of Monte San Michele being
bombarded — Stroll through the town — A big shell — Excursion to
Cervignano, Aquileia and Grado — Peaceful country-side — Grado
the Austrian Ostend — Fish-lunch at a cafe — The town
continually bombarded by aircraft — Arrival of Beaumont, the
French airman — Conclusion of official tour of Front — No
permission given for correspondents to remain — Success of tour
— Comments on organization, etc.
CHAPTER XII:
Conclusion of Correspondents' tour
of Front — I return to London — Awaiting events — Brief official
communiqués — Half Austrian Army held up on Italian Front —
Harrying tactics — Trench warfare during the winter —
Recuperative powers of the Austrians — Gorizia a veritable
Verdun — Italian occupation of Austrian territory — Many
thousand square miles conquered — A bolt from the blue — Serious
development — Awakening Austrian activity — 400,000 troops in
the Trentino — front from Lake Garda to Val Sugana ablaze —
Totally unforseen onslaught — Towns and villages captured —
Genius of Cadorna — Menace of invasion ended — I go and see
Charles Ingram with reference going back to Italy — His
journalistic acumen — My marching orders — Telegram from Rome —
My journey back to Italy — Confidence everywhere — Milan in
darkness — Improvement on the railway to Udine — Udine much
changed — Stolid business air — Changes at the Censorship —
Press Bureau and club for correspondents — The Censorship staff
— Few accredited correspondents — Remarkable absence of Entente
correspondents — Badges and passes — Complete freedom of action
given me — I start for Vicenza en route for Arsiero — Scenes on
road — From daylight into darkness — Hun methods of
frightfulness — Arsiero — Its unfavourable position — Extent of
the Austrian advance — Rush of the Italians — Austrians not yet
beaten — Town damaged by the fire and bombardment — Villa of a
great writer — Rossi's paper mills — The town itself — The
battlefiield — Debris of war — A dangerous souvenir for my
studio
CHAPTER XIII:
The fighting on the Asiago plateau
— Brilliant counter-offensive of General Cadorna — I go to
Asiago — Wonderful organization of Italian Army — Making new
roads — Thousands of labourers — The military causeway- — Supply
columns in full operation — Wonderful scenes — Approaching the
scene of action — The forest of Gallio — The big bivouac — Whole
brigades lying hidden — The forest screen — Picturesque
encampments — The " bell " tent as compared with the tente
d'abri — Our car stopped by the Carabinieri — " Nostri Canoni "
— We leave the car — The plain of Asiago — The little town of
Asiago in distance — The Austrian and Italian batteries and
Italian trenches — Hurrying across — The daily toll of the guns
— Asiago in ruins — Street fighting — Importance attaching to
this point — An ominous lull — Regiment waiting to proceed
trenches — Sad spectacle — The quarters of the divisional
commandant — His " office " — Staff clerks at work — Telephone
bells ringing — The commandant's regret at our coming — Big
artillery attack to commence — A quarter of an hour to spare — A
peep at the Austrian trenches — A little, ruined home — All
movements of troops to trenches by night — Artillery action
about to commence — Not allowed go trenches — Adventure on way
back — Attempt cross no man's land at the double — My little "
souvenir " of Asiago — Bursting shells — Ordered to take cover —
The wounded soldiers and the kitten — Anything but a pleasant
spot — The two Carabinieri — Cool courage — In the " funk hole "
An inferno — My own impressions — Effect on soldiers and our
chauffeur — The wounded sergeant — We prepare to make a start
back — Irritating delay — A shrapnel — My companion is wounded —
Transformation along road — Curious incident.
CHAPTER XIV:
Slow but certain progress on the
Trentino front — An Open secret — The mining of the Castalleto
summit — Carried out by Alpini — Recapture of Monte Cimone :
also by Alpini — Heroic exploits — Udine one's pied a terre — An
ideal " News centre " — The Isonzo Front — The old days of the
war correspondent as compared [ with the present conditions —
Well to be prepared — Returning to Udine for lunch — Attracting
attention — Unjustifiable — Things quiet at the Front — Unusual
heat of the summer — Changeable weather at Udine — Early days of
August- — Increasing activity in the Isonzo Sector — Significant
fact — Communiqué of August 4th — The communiqué of the
following day — General attack by Italians all along this Front
— Arrange start for scene of action — My car companions 6th
August-Magnificent progress everywhere — Afternoon news —
Capture of Monte Sabottina announced — We make for Vipulzano —
On the road — Stirring scenes — " New " regiments — " Are we
downhearted " — The penchant for Englishmen — A cortege of
prisoners — Like a huge crowd of beggars — Half-starved and
terror-stricken •trapping young fellows
CHAPTER XV:
The commencement of the battle for
Gorizia — We approach scene of action — Sheltered road — Curious
Chinese " effect — Headquarters of the 6th Corps d'Armee —
Cottage of British Red Cross — Our cordial reception by General
Capello- — A glorious coup d'oeil — Wonderful spectacle — The
Socialist Minister Leonida Bissolati — More good news received —
The scene before us — Explanation of word " Monte " — Continuous
line of bursting shells — Country in a state of irruption — No
indication of life anywhere — Not a sign of troops — My motor
goggles — Curious incidents — " Progress everywhere " — Colonel
Clericetti announces good news — Capture of Gorizia bridge-head
— Excited group of correspondents and officers — Arrange start
at once with two confreres for fighting Front — Our plan — The
thunder of the guns — The rearguard of advancing army — Our pace
slackened — Miles and miles of troops — Wonderful spectacle of
war — Mossa — Go on to Valisella — Machine guns and rifle fire —
Ghastly radiance — General Marazzis' Headquarters — Not allowed
proceed further — Decide make for Vipulzano Arrive close on 10
o'clock — Bit late to pay visit — General invites us to dinner —
Large party of officers — Memorable dinner — Atmosphere of
exultation — News Austrians retreating everywhere — Thousands
more prisoners — Dawn of day of victory — I propose a toast — On
the terrace after dinner — Battle in full progress —
Awe-inspiring spectacle — Little lights, like Will-o'-the-Wisps
— Amazing explanation — Methodical precision of it all —
Austrian fire decreasing gradually — Time to think of getting
back to Udine and bed
CHAPTER XVI:
The capture of Gorizia — Up
betimes — My lucky star in the ascendant — I am put in a car
with Barzini — Prepared for the good news of the capture —
Though not so soon — A slice of good fortune — Our chauffeur —
We get off without undue delay — The news of the crossing of the
Isonzo — Enemy in full retreat — We reach Luc-inico — The
barricade — View of Gorizia — The Austrian trenches — " No man's
land " — Battlefield debris — Austrian dead — An unearthly
region — Austrian General's Headquarters — Extraordinary place —
Spoils of Victory — Gruesome spectacle — Human packages —
General Marazzi — Podgora — Grafenberg — Dead everywhere — The
destroyed bridges — Terrifying Explosions — Lieutenant Ugo
Oyetti — A remarkable feat — The heroes of Podgora — " Ecco
Barzini " — A curtain of shell fire — Marvellous escape of a gun
team — In the faubourgs of Gorizia — " Kroner " millionaires —
The Via Leoni — The dead officer — The Corso Francesco Guiseppi
— The " Grosses " cafe — Animated scene — A cafe in name only —
Empty cellar and larder — Water supply cut off — A curious
incident — Fifteen months a voluntary prisoner — A walk in
Gorizia — Wilful bombardment — The inhabitants — The " danger
Zone " — Exciting incident — Under fire — The abandoned dog —
The Italian flags — The arrival of troops — An army of gentlemen
— Strange incidents — The young Italian girl — No looting — At
the Town Hall — The good-looking Austrian woman — A hint — The
Carabinieri — " Suspects " — Our return journey to Udine — My
trophies -The sunken pathway — Back at Lucinico — The most
impressive spectacle of the day
CHAPTER XVII:
L' After Gorizia — Method and
thoroughness of General C'adorna — Amusing story — Result of the
three days fighting — Employment for first time of cavalry and
cyclists — Udine reverts to its usual calm — Arrival of visitors
— Lord Northcliffe and others — Whitney Warren — Changes along
the fighting Front — -Monte San Michele — A misleading statement
— " Big Events " — pending — A visit to Gorizia — My companions
— Great change visible on road — Battlefield cleared away —
Gorizia — Deserted streets — Rules and regulations for the
inhabitants — The two cafes open — Rumours of counter-attack —
The General's Headquarters — Somewhat scant courtesy — A stroll
round — We decide spend night in Gorizia — The deserted Hotel —
We take possession of rooms — A jolly supper party — A glorious
summer night — One long hellish tatoo — The Austrian
counter-attack- — A night of discomfort — The noise from the
trenches — The cause of my "restlessness" — The "comfortable"
beds — Gorizia in the early morning — Indifference to the
bombardment — Back to Udine via Savogna, Sdraussina and Sagrado
— Panorama of military activity — Monte San Michele — Looking
for a needle in a bundle of hay — The cemeteries — The pontoon
bridge — The Austrian trenches — The cavalry division — Renewed
shelling of Gorizia
CHAPTER XVIII:
Big operations on the Carso —
General optimism — No risks taken — Great changes brought about
by the Victory — A trip to the new lines — Gradisca and Sagrado
— A walk round Gradisca — Monte San Michele — Sagrado —
Disappearance of Austrian aeroplanes and observation balloons —
Position of Italian " drachen " as compared with French — On the
road to Doberdo — Moral of troops — Like at a picnic — A
regiment on its way to the trenches — The Italian a " thinker "
— Noticeable absence of smoking — My first impression of the
Carso — Nature in its most savage mood — The Brighton downs
covered with rocks — Incessant thunder of guns — Doberdo hottest
corner of the Carso — No troops — Stroll through ruins of street
— Ready to make a bolt — A fine view — The Austrian trenches —
Shallow furrows — Awful condition of trenches — Grim and
barbarous devices — Austrian infamies — Iron-topped bludgeons,
poisoned cigarettes, etc. — Under fire — A dash for a dug-out —
The imperturbable Carabinieri — Like a thunderbolt — A little
incident — Brilliant wit — The limit of patience — The Italian
batteries open fire — -No liberties to be taken — On the way
back — Effect of the heavy firing — Motor ambulances — Magnified
effect of shell fire on Carso — Rock splinters — Terrible wounds
CHAPTER XIX:
Difficulties Italians have still
to contend with on way to Trieste — Italian superior in fighting
quality — Dash and reckless courage — Success reckoned by yards
— Total number of prisoners taken — A huge seine net — The "
call of the wild " — A visit to San Martino del Carso — My
companion — Our route — The attraction of the road — Early
morning motoring — On our own — The unconventional quarters of
the divisional general — The Rubbia-Savogna railway station —
The signalman's cabin — An interesting chat with the General —
At our own risk — The big camp on Monte San Michele — The
desolate waste of the Carso — An incident — Nothing to sketch —
" Ecco San Martino del Carso " — Shapeless dust-covered rubble —
The Austrian trenches amongst the ruins — Under fire — Back to
Udine — A pleasant little episode — Dejeuner to Colonel
Barbarich at Grado — A "day's outing " — The little " Human "
touch — The " funk-hole " in the dining room — A trip in a
submarine chaser — Things quiet in Udine — A period of
comparative inactivity
CHAPTER XX:
Declaration of war between Italy
and Germany — Effect of declaration at Udine — Interesting
incident — General Cadorna consents to give me a sitting for a
sketch — The curious conditions — Methodic and business-like —
Punctuality and precision — A reminder of old days — I am
received by the Generalissimo — His simple, unaffected manner —
Unconventional chat — " That will please them in England — My
Gorizia sketch book — — The General a capital model — "Hard as
nails" — the sketch finished — Rumour busy again — A visit to
Monfalcone — One of the General's Aides-de-camp Hurt at
unearthly hour — Distance to Monfalcone — Arctic conditions — "
In time for lunch " — Town life and war — Austrian hour for
opening fire — Monfalcone Deserted aspect — The damage by
bombardment — The guns silent for the moment — The ghost of a
town — That's only one of our own guns " — A walk to the
shipbuilding yards — The communication trench — The bank of the
canal — The pontoon bridge — The immense red structure — The
deserted shipbuilding establishment — Fantastic forms — Vessels
in course of construction — A strange blight — The hull of the
20,000 Ion liner- — The gloomy interior — The view of the Carso
and Trieste through a porthole — Of soul stirring interest —
Hill No. 144 — The " daily strafe " — " Just in time " — Back to
Udine " in time for lunch " — Return to the Carso — Attack on
the Austrian positions at Veliki Hribach — New Difficulties —
Dense woods — Impenetrable cover — Formidable lines of trenches
captured — Fighting for position at Nova Vas — Dramatic ending —
Weather breaking up — Operations on a big scale perforce
suspended — Return London await events
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
The author in San Martino del Carso Frontispiece
During the entire day the onward march continued
Rugged and threatening, visible for miles around, is the
frowning pinnacle of bare rock known as Monte Nero
It meant practically scaling a cliff of rock
A rude altar of rough boxes was set up
The King appeared indefatigable and was out and about in all
weathers
Along the big military highway constructed by Napoleon
As he whirled past in the big car
The whole region was positively alive with warlike energy
A very useful-looking Nordenfeldt quick-firer mounted on the
fore-deck
Before us stretched the broad valley of the Adige
On one of the worst portions we passed a gang of peasant Women
carrying barbed wire up to the trenches
One would have liked to spend an indefinite time in these scenes
of warlike activity
But nothing had stopped the rush of the Italians
And came up with reinforcements hurrying forward
The least severely wounded occupants jumped out of the wagon
And day by day one heard of minor successes in Trentino
The object of this being to hide movements of troops and convoys
Two infantry regiments, the 11th and 12th, forded and swam
across the river
The soldiers round us now began to move forward, and we were
practically carried up the gully with them
I was fortunate enough to get some interesting sketches of the
cavalry crossing the river under fire
The only difficulty the officers experienced was in getting
them to advance with caution
They came racing across the stretch of " No Man's Land "
A grey-haired officer of medium height, whom I immediately
recognized as the Generalissimo, was reading an official
document
To advance through the jungle called for all the cool,
disciplined courage of the Italian soldier
