Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-11-26
TRIP
THROUGH WAR ZONE
BY AMERICAN GIRL
Disguised as italian Officer
Countess Wheeled Up and
Down the Carso in Order
to Satisfy Her Yankee
Curiosity.
BY JOHN n. HEARLEY


Rome, Italy, Nov. 3.-(By maiD-Ar
American girl has secuted for the Ital-
Ian army, it was learned here today
She is the Countess (censored).
Disguised as an Italian officer, the
countess motorcycled up and down the
battle-swept Carso. She was paired
with her husband, distinguished Ro-
man nobleman. He is a cyclist scout
and messenger for the general staff.
Her exploit is unique in Italy's war.
The one-time st. Louis belle is the
only woman, who has crawled through
shell-rocked trenches and been face
to-face with battle at the Italian front.
HER "PERFECTLY SAFE" PLAN.
During her 10 years residence in
Rome the countess has lost her Amer
lean accent, but not her Yankee Gu
riosity. When she recently visited her
husband at certain war zone town,
she told him she had to have a first
hand acquaintance with shrapnel and
bayonets. Moreover, he personally
must give her the introduction.
At first the count wouldn't listen to
her proposal. However, she was not
to be put off. She told him her per
fectly safe" plan. The side seat of his
motorcycle was Just the place for her.
She could pose as his assistant officer
He was finally persuaded He
brought her the natty gray green uni
form, starred at the collar, and the
hat. Everything fitted,
even the breeches, ending in the wind
ing leggings. over all she threw a
long military dust coat.
FOOLED THE SENTINEIo
The start was made early one morn
ing. The count had messages to carry
to the Carso. Goggled against the
dust, she looked like 1.-THE young Of
ficer. No sentinels bothered her. SO
completely were they fooled. Her hus-
bands papers and say SO were enough
for both.
One of the first stops was made at
st. Michele. Here the American girl
saw the bloody trenches and shallow
graves where their defenders were
buried. Several times the wierd
whistle of an approaching shell forced
her to hunted cover. She was in easy
range of an Austrian battery, a mile
away. One explosion took place with
in 20 yards of her. giving her sud
den shock. The smoke spread over
the trench. which sheltered her.
THROUGH WRECKED VILLAGES.
The countess studied all the trade
marks of war. The Austrian villages.
which had fallen into Italian hands.
passed in quick review. Some were
wrecks, just junk piles of woods and
metals. Others were strangely whole.
but few, if any inhabitants were any,
where about
She shed her only tears over the rude
cemeteries. In them Italian and Aus
-rian sometimes mingled, enemies in
life but brothers in death.
The night was passed in Gradisca.
The count and countess slept in a mill
AIRY establishment. A terrific can
lonade awakened them early. The
Austrians were bombarding the city.
SHE SAW REAL WAR.
THE buildings on each side of our
odging were tumbled into ruins" she |
old me. ut was a terrible moment |
ooking through the window at the
bursting shells. Providentially our
quarters escaped destruction.
But 1t was war. l felt knew Mars
It last and had an immediate enough
Il him. So the next morning we mo-
orcycled back to our starting place.
Don stepped out OF my unaccustomed
lothes and got into more comfortable
mes. Shortly after I entrained for
eaceful Rome, leaving my husband to
ursue his military duties alone"