Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-03

Continued from Page Cne)

seen as he went to and from the front
where the Duke Of AoSta comman-
der of the Third Army, and Gen. Ca
peilo. commander of the Second Army.
We're in personal charge of the wall of
steel that the Italians had erected in
side Of Austrian territory.
Nearby At that time was the off
cial station. where orr dispatches We're
rigidly scrutinized. The whole city
was given UP TO the supreme mill
talN administration, with the streets
crowded with al ranks of soidiery
Crisis Week Ago
This gives glimpse Of the scene
which changed with such suddenness
when the crisis came last Friday night.
From that hour the correspondent
tried to make frequent notes from
which the entries should give the main
sequence OF events
At noon Friday there was succession
of air raids. The alarm was sounded by
triple songs. followed by sirens and bells
The streets We're cleared. the shops were
closed and business was suspended.
The first definite information was thus
given that the acknowledgements had cross
ed the IsOnzo in a huge offensive Friday
night the gravity of the situation led to
the consideration Of retirement OF the
army and the removal Of the headquarters
westward. The commander of the troops
in this sector read to them with emotion
Gen. Cadorna's stirring appeal to the sol
ders to stand firm, and all Joined in loyal
shouts Of Long live italy"
Told All Must Leave
Saturday. morning the CORES pondent
was summoned at daybreak and informed
that all must leave at once, as the head
quarters had been removed. The railway
was given over to troops, artillery and
stores. Private trains and the telegra phi
had been suspended. All sorts of vehi-
Giles and horses We're impressed for mill
tary requirements. Throngs OF persons
were walking along the roads and the
refugees, men, women and children, were
carrying the pitifu remnants Of the
household goods salvaged in their flight
before the invaders
The correspondent succeeded in board
irs an automobile of the last British Red
Cross unit TO leave A final look at mid
night from the top Of the Red Cross
building found that the eastern horizon
was ahlaze with continual explosions as
the italians blew W munition depots and
bridges to impede the advance of the en-
envy and screen their own retirement. A
fierce bombardment was punctured with
star shells from either side while the
gunners attempted TO discover their op-
ponents' positions
Vast Traffic cloeged Roads
AT daylight Sunday the vast traffic Of
the retiring multitude clogged the roads
for miles. The Red Cross automobile
party expected to make 80 miles inside of
two hours, but 1t developed that it would
take at least two days to achieve this
distance.
The withdrawal OF the heavy guns
and the munitions supplies revealed a
military genius of the highest order.
but the civilian crowds added to the
difficulty of the huge military removal.
4 torrential rain increased the hard
ships of the soldiers and added to the
misery Of the women and children, who
had walked seemingly endless miles
over the roads and through the fields
all night.
Sunday morning. at railway cross
ing. a steady succession of fiat cars
assisted in the removal Of the artil-
lery. The monster guns were mount
ed on double cars with a covering of
boughs IS a screen against air raid
ers. The rain was providential. as
clear weather would have permitted
the enemy airplanes to lombard the
roads and block the withdrawal r
Along Line Of Retreat
Along the line of retreat were many
wounded being carried on litters
through the deluge of rain. The Red
Cross car took aboard one soldier with
a shell wound in his arm. Sunday