Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-09-18

fetal dispatch announcing the award
by the Italian government of its sill
yer medal for valor. virtually the high
est military recognition that can come
to an Italian soldier. is one of the
most thrilling and romantic episodes
of the entire war; one which, in fact.
may be said to have had distinct
and definite hearing upon the success
of the Italian arms.
The cable message announcing the
award, and which was published in
America a few days ago, read;
awarded to First Lieut.. (he later
received his captaincy( francesca
Mario Guardabassi of Perugia,- while
on the staff Of the commander of divi-
sion. Energetic co-operator of the
high co'nmahd Of the division, First
Lieutenant Guardabassi gave an adj
mirable proof Of determination, energy
and bravery In n very difficult circum-
stance during the drive from the Car
so 10 the Piave. firmly checking a sud
den and threatening panic aroused
among the troops, Cars0-TagliamentO.
Bridge of Latisana, 2e October. 1917"
Captain (then first lieutenant)
Guardabassi, by his action, prevented
the Italian retreat from the CarSO to
the Piave from becoming a disorderly
rout and transformed it into an or
derby retirement, which enabled the
italian forces to reform and TO make
their position on the Piave impregna-
Bile. 1t was Captain GuardabaSSi who,
standing virtually alone on the bridge
head of LatiSana, inspired the troops
of the Third army TO hold their ground
when overwhelmed with fear and
panic.
is Here on Special Mission.
Captain GuardahasSi. who mt the
time was aid-de-camp Of General Pc
ullo, divisional commander In the
Third army Of Italy. in the last few
months mas become familiar figure
In New York Following his achieve
ments on the TagiaI>-nto he was
called 10 Rome and because Of his
wide knowledge Of America and Amer
leans, was sent to the United States
on a special mission from the italian
government. Captain GuardabasSi
was persuaded to tell the story If how
he won the decoration. 1t is best told
in his own words:
"YOu can imagine the spirit Of our
army last October" said he. when
our generals Of the Third army an
nOunced that we were to fall back.
We had worked so hard TO establish
our line on the Tagliamento, and we
were so proud. Now the orders came
that we were to get back on the Pr
ave There were no finer fellows in
the world than in the Third amy. but
wave of Encouragement swept
through the ranks We're we TO be
beaten?
"The PiHve line was stronger-it
was our natural line There we could
hold off the Austrians coming down
from the north and prevent their
breaking into the Italian plains. II
was only 40 miles back yet our army.
none of us. could realize this. 1t was
n retreat And il became more and
more difficult to keep up the soldiers
morale to hold them together
1.-THE Third army numbered 400. 900
1t was reduced during the campaign
from 100000 to 10000. hut that was its
size when the retreat was ordered
There were complications in the re-
treat. for down from the northwest
began &c come detaclments from the
Second army. mingling with our men.
tending to produce disorder
Rain Makes Retreat Difficult.
"I shall never forget how 1t rained
during those days. The Carso-Taglla-
mento region is marshy country
Where we were was not far from the
sea. In the retreat We had 10 keep 70
the roads. This made our falling back
oil the harder.
II could never have done what had
10 do had it not been for my general,
General Petillo. and the fact that
was his aid-de-camp. Remember
that. besides the hurriedly retreating
soldiers pouring along the roads ey-
trywhere. disheartcned and fearful. the
country people by thousands were re-
treating Nobody know what might
happen. The feellnz WIS growing that
the war was lost Tint we would soon
make a new stand aad brilliant one
along the Piave and later retrieve ev-
erything nobody realized. You Duid
not have tgtE shafr fkof