The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-08-06
GETTING TO
The FRONT
NOT EASY
United Press Corespo ondent Meets
Some Difficulties ia Reaching
Scene Of Operations; Dip
lomat Gives Him Lift
BY WILLIAM c. SHEPARD.

''%f "'F W. Ahnhtf cu "
come to Rome to go to the Italian
front.
First you've got a'lot OF talking to do
with sturdy. grizzled American. Bus
that's a pleasure. His name is Thomas
Nelson Page, and he is the American
ambassador to Rome lie comes from
somewhere way down south. to judge
by bis soft accent and when you tell
him that you have come TO Rome 70 go
70 the Italian front he laughs soft.
southern laugh and says
Well. Young man, Ah'l do NAH best
foh you, but Ah'm afraid it won't do
much good
His best, however, fills you with
hope. It's letter to zuppelli, the min.
lister Of war: il says you're trust
worthy. Identifies you as an American
ne1spaperman and puts you outside
tic possibility of being taken for a
German spy.
OFF to the war office with the letter
us a gigantic building. No one can un-
derstand your Italian. but, at least
you're led to the office OF the war min
ister
grizzled officer comes out to meet
YOU He is Gen Ella, the sub-secre-
tary Of war
Were not letting anybody go TO the
'front.'" he says in good English May
be Wen have some tours for CORE
spondents after thinss get settled down
but Just now there is no hope. I'm
very sorry but that is the way matters
stand"
Just as yolI're leaving he adds:
''You see the matter is entirely in
the hands OF Gen. cadorna, who has
charge Of field operations
SO cadorna is the man TO- see And
he's at the front And you're not al
lowed az the 'front.'
But the next day YOU buy ticket
lor Venice Venice is only sixty miles
from the front, and that Is something.
You reach Venice at II o'clock al
night No traveller has ever seen
Venice looking like this before, There
are no lights; the canals are silent
and deserted because OF military or
ders For the half oxen travellers who
came in on the night train there are I
four gondoas. In the brilliant moon
light you seem to be in a fairy land
As yoiir sondoller rows you through /
the silvery pathways that are called
canals This is part of your dash 70
he front This unforgetable half houl
y the deserted waterways of Venice;
his little piece of the moonlight night
n this silent dream city lying on your
toward bloody war
Your sleep. that night, is disturbed
~ mosquitoes the huge, salt water
,rothers Of the New Jersey bird. The
silvery canals are full Of the
mosquito itch; their romantic charm
oses its power over you as you duck
our head under the sheets. But it's
III part Of going to the Italian front
The next morning YOU go to the po
ice station, via boat. 1t is the mill
ary law that you must report to the
,olice and get from them a signed pes
mission to remain in the town,
what can | do for you. young fel
er?' asks a dark. mustached man. Sit
ing at desk. He looks every inch q
detective
= want permit to stay in Venice
But where did YOU learn English?"
why was born in New York and |
ived there until seven years ago"
avs the policeman.
"Why did you leave2"
He is working busily, filling in
lark with your name ana description
nd he doesn't even look up as he says
Il tried tc get on the New York pc
ice department but | failed in my ex.
animation. SO | came over here and
.ot or the Venice police force. Here's
our paper. You're from. New York,
90. Well, If there's anything ! can
10 for Won here. give me the high sign.
Fou know yon reporters are not sup
osed to he allowed TO stay in town"
The only use YOU have for the paper
! TO present it at the railroad station
shen you buy a ticket for Udine
dino Is the front, the headquarters.
{ you can get there YOU can throw
ourself on the mercies of Gen Ca
orna, chief Of the Italian army, and
our into his ears the story of how
merica is longing to know. at first
and. all there is TO know about the
allan army.
Drprase want Ans ur,nw epruifs