The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-08-16
sy HERBERT COREY.

THE TRENTINo. Aug s. lBy
MAil) Rocky SUBMITS are not my
preferred habitat Nature fitted me
Win u comfortable Sirth instead OF
hill-climeing devices. Ny breathing
Is more bcisterous than advisable
In 81 enemy country after the nrst
three or four thousand feet OF
ascent SO that viewed with .
somewhat malicious interest the
slisht Lump General X displayed ~
be led the way Up q slope TO which
! sometimes took my hands. II
seemed 10 me he could not keep the
pace.
a bayonst wound" said his aide
de-cAmp IN reply 10 my solieitous
Observations. 1T Is hardly healed.
Because this story IL about the Of.
ncers OF the Italian army II 10 worth
while saying . bit more about that
Ssyonet wound. General X Is 81
Years old. Dawn 10 apt 10 and him
On q mountain top. to which he has
SAAAANNs ~ O&ocf W eAh'ss NNe cE
envy positions. He is on the move
ali day long. and he necessarily
moves on foot. because he has a
fancy for the nring line. The firing
line can only be reached on foot
in these mountains, as a rule. The
roads have been lett far behind.
Our men were charging s month
or so ago said the aide-de-oamp.
when the brigadier vas struck and
fell. Hts men began TO talter. iol
the FIRE was very heavy Then. Gen
eral y seized rife and led The
charge himself |, was there he re-
ceived that oayonet wound In the
leg We took the position
That argues Spartan courage IN
the general. but he has other quail
iecations for leadership. he IS q
str&tegist, FOR II was he who chart
&c the military roads through this
noun tain district. which have been
such an important feature IN their
defense. He Is as simply enthusias-
tic as a boy in his liking for this
game 81 war His eyes shine as he
speaks OF the feats his men have
accamp lished. or when he outlines
ne moves ~ which the Austrians
Lave heer defearnd Il vas because
h- wished me 20 understand par
ucGlsr phrase % he action then 90
irE on that ne lci The way W ! lad
.r..ake trench - thc toot OF the rim
rock that crowned the hill The
Aus,rians were on top OF the nm
Itself one hundred feet OF over
hanging cjir protected rs from their
s'tantions
"He should Tot 40 IT," said IN"
aido-d,-canr. shaking his head
Ever inch " This trench IS under
zeol. sre lie takes too mans
chances
Bur the aitede-camp's uft"rance
w0s purely Official T. his heart Dc
re.0!cel IN this general who took
chances SO did all The rest of h.s
men. The showed ne with delEh'
a hole torn IN the stone side OF tar
hEl. not FIVE feet from he cc-0.r
- the l'tls but in which Gens,t'
Y makes his headquarters. by n.
Austrian 3o5 shell that had fales
here an hour before 0'har She
rad fallen all over the lot tt
--ce was Uttered With stec, r.
rraats.
'Ga-eral X likes IT," they sfhUuor
WITH conviction. He never stay
AZ stzr headquartsrs. where he
might be comparatively safe Hc
had -ather be on the firing line win
US
II this we're an isolated case, ~
a single officer who takes chances.
n would prove nothing But my on.
servation Jed me 20 believe that
General X was the typical Italian
leader In his complete disregard Of
personal danger among his men.
The italian army Is not a demOcra-
tic army in the serise that the
French army IL. The officers are, al
rule. men Of good social class
one does not hear so often Of pro
motions from the ranks "a one does
in France. because this frst army
wes a hurriedly formed organization.
and men OF intelligence and educa.
ton were necessarily selected for
commissioned rank. The relation
OF the officer 20 his men Is paternal
rather than brotherly. They look
up 10 him with simple confidence
and affection
The spirit OF the officer is the
spirit Of The men IN our army" ar
officer Of another generals stan
said. Our men very quickly sp.
praise their leader. II the officer
r. good one they will follow him
anywhere. They cannot be driven
as the Austrians are. II the officer
Ia not a good one-vell. he IL drop
ped"
That night AZ stan headquarters
sadness fell upon the dinner table,
which would ordinarily have been
lively because the AustriAn army
pas IN retreat bitter and savage
and vell-fought retreat. but stu a
retreat Word has inst come that
colonel who had dined with the
stan The night before had been shot
through the head by an Austrian
sniper
"TIe Wa IN his nav around pa.