The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-13
p CYCLIST FINDS
JOY IN HAIL OF BULLETS
Italian Soldier Tells His Captain Rattle of Austrian
Rifles Made Him Believe His Dream of Owning a
Motorcycle Had Been Realized.
Special Correspondence 10 THE suS.

special CorrespoHdence TO THE SuS.
ROME. June 25.--Despite the strict
censorship and a recent law f~orbidding
any one from spreading news about the
war, quite a few stories of actual fight
ing are hltering through. since officers
returning from the front will ak
The heroism and self-sacrifice shown
by officers and men OF the Italian Alpine
regiments Is illustrated In the following
episode, a company OF Alpini recently
climbed up the side OF a high mountain
where they were ordered to hold an
important position against the enemy.
They had no means OF knowing the
strength of the A%ustrians hidde In
'front.' OF them. and the captain hesitated
about advancing any further over un-
explored ground. A young Lieutenant
went to the captain and said 'tiive
me forty men and | will either take the
next position or find out how many
Austrians there are
Within ten minutes the Lieutenant and
his men advanced to the enemy's lines.
where two officers were apparently wait.
ing for them. surrender !" shouted the
lieutenant to the Austrians. who merely
smiled with a superior air and answered.
Surrender. yourself. We have 500 men
here. as you will presently see" So
saying one blew "a whistle and from be-
hind the rocks and out Of hidden
trenches the 500 Austrians sprang up
and charged. The Italian Lieutenant
n his forty men promptly took cover
and checked the onslaught of the enemy.
who advanced In close formation deter
mined to surround the handful of Ital-
ians. The Captain knew at once that
the strength Of the Austrians was double
that of his company. but he ordered his
men to charge The Alpini threw of
their knapsacks and rushed against the
A~ustrians. who turned and fed. Thus
the way vas cleared for the company's
advance toward the position assigned
to IL.
why lie Took the Risk.
The Colonel commanding an Italian
advanced post In front of an Austrian
fort sent out a cyclist volunteer to get
information about n certain position.
Remember, my boy. not 10 &c two
yards beyond that tree" said the Colonel.
pointing to n tree half "A mile away.
The volunteer replied, Yes. SIR" and
started. He not only wen beyond the
tree but went round the fort under
a hail OF rife bullets. When he
returned. safe and sound. to the Italian
lines with the Information wanted the
Colonel blamed and praised him at the
same time and then he asked But
what made you take such an unneces-
sary risk 80 The volunteer blushed and
then answered. "Why. sir. l always
wished | could ride a motorcycle, and
when the Ausirians fired at me the
noise they made was like that OF a
motorcycle. SO | almost :elt as If l had
been riding one instead OF an ordinary
cycle
At "A small railroad station just as a
troop train bound to the front stopped
"A boy of IL rushed up to the officers
compartment and asked "A Lieutenant
us there a General on board. please?
The officer shook his head in denial and
in turn asked the boy what he wanted
a General for. Il had a favor TO ask.
said the boy. When the officer suggested
that perhaps he could help. the boy
shook his head and shrugged his
shoulders. saying Nobody but the
King. or at least a General. can help
me-" II,
Il dare say you want to enlist sa'd
the officer. 80,
.yes sir YOU nave guessed H." re-
plied the boy. you see | am IL years
and a month old and | ha re the strength
of "A man of 20. | wish YOU could dc
something for me. Ny three brothers
are all soldiers and | want to fight too
You are sure to meet n General, ana
If YOU tell him | am always here want
ing AZ This station he may send Tor me
The hoy shouted "Niva iltalia whei
the train started. The officer, Writing
10 his family from the front, says ne
is not surprised that the soldiers are
wonderful, since 1t would be imposslple
for them not 10 fight like heroes wher
all over Italy there are boys OF Il
waiting for Generals to come their way
I'm order TO ask them the favor or en-
listing.