Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-15
His Courage, Devotion and Self
:. Sacrifice Are Pointed Out as
Examples to All.
WAR CHANGES HIM GREATLY
Makes No Secret of Determine
ton to Kill Himself in Case
of Capture by Enemy.
BY CAMILLE cIANFARRA.

poet and dramatist, told me on his ar
rival here after being dangerously
wounded in one of the latest engage
ments on the Carso.
The public knows very little about
his exploits on the battle field" Cap
tain Martini continued. but those who
at first believed the great poet had
Joined the colors to advertise himself
Gas II his fame was not already large
enoughO must now admit that, except
for official recognition OF his services
this year. the public has heard very
little Of him. and then only at long
intervals.
Now, the reason why you have
heard very little about the man who
IS known by sight to every soldier on
the firing line is that D'Annunzio has
personally entreated every correspond
cnt to say nothing about him as long
as they cared TO retain his friendship.
And so far the correspondents have
RETAINED from writing him up and 1t
will be q long time before they will be
able to acquaint the world with
D'Annunzio entirely different from the
one the salons of Rome and Paris were
familiar with
''He has now transferred his prodig-
ious activity as a worker TO the battle
field. where his courage, devotion and
sclf-sacrifice are pointed out as ex-
amplcs to officers young and old
only few intimate friends know
how many times he came near losing
his life while discharging his duties.
and that few days ago he barely
missed being made prisoner But he
would not have been taken alive. or
-, tu I.t4 ,f-., Ii !, t.
case of capture by the enemy he makes
no secret. He told 1t to mo several
days ago, and the tone of his voice, his
composure, were that of man who
has long pondcrcd over his decision.
He said that in case he should find
himself surrounded by the Austrians.
he would shoot any one who dared
place a hand on his shoulder and re-
- serve tho last bullet for himself.
IN DANGER on CARSo
DURING ENGAGEMENT
TT was during one of the last en-
gagements on the lower Carso that
italy came very near losing the great
est of her living poets. D'Annunzio
was acting as connecting officer be-
tween two units advancing along the
Timavo Brook. when he saw that one
of the units had lost it's last officer.
and that the men were rapidly. falling
back under heavy fire and hail of
hand grenades
THE poet cried to the men to stop.
shouted few words of encouragement
to them, and then again led them for
ward in vain race with the Austrians
toreach the wall of a garden.
1.-THE Austrians got there first. and
as D'Annunzios decimatcd contingent
retreatcd under the pressure OF strong
Iy superior forces. some of the men
were made prisoner. The same even
ing he told me that he was unable TO
explain why the Austrians had let him
go. when they could have taken him
instead of any other Of his men.
But the closest call the poet re-
ceived was while he was acting as OBJ
server on board a navy airplane. Be
fore being attached to the third army.
D'Annunzio was in Venice with the
navy. One day he was ordered to par
ticipate in a raid over Trieste and take
charge of the bomb tube. Everything
went we'll until the poet released the
last bomb The bomb. three feet long
and Weighing forty pounds, got stuck
in. the tube when only halfway out.
and then a thrilling dialogue took
place between the pilot. Lieutenant
MiraElia only son of the director-gen-
eral Of the Bank OF Naples. and since
killed and the observer. The pilot,
who had already turned the machine
homeward, instructed the poet TO push
out the bomb, and, in case it resisted.
hold it with his hands to prevent 1t
from falling on Italian territory.
r-.'The poet did as he was told. and.
though the rim of the tube was cut
ting deep into his biceps. he held the
bomb till the problem Of landing and
the prospect of the bomb exploding as
the machine touched the ground filled
both the pilot and the observer with
alarm.
BOTH JUMP OFF
AND SWIM TO SHORE
....when in sight Of Venice Lieutenant
Miraglia made heroic decision. In
stead Of heading for the aviation
camp, he turned seward and finally,
as the machine touched the water
few yards from Lido, he and the poet
both jumped off and swan ashore.
The airplane was recovered a few
days afterward almost unchanged.
ION another occasion the poet barely
missed having as his ceffin the hold Of
q. DndTluS. by SpcSldi PCiIiiSoioh "a
Rear-Admiral Cagni. then in charge Of
tho Department of Venice. DAnnunzio
was training for submarine raid in
the Adriatic. After two weeks of daily
Immersion in the submarine, the COM
mander told him that he was ready to
take him into Trieste harbor.
1.-THE hour for the crew. to meet on
board the submarine was in the
afternoon, but in tho morning Of the
same day Senator Michetti, the famous
painter and one Of the poets dearest
friends. arrived in Venice and went
straight to the Hotel Danieli to see
p'Annunzio. The result Of this un-
EXPECTED, visit was that the poet could
.s- Continued on Tenth Page.)
I S-ss. I. y II iis q 5 So