The Twin City star., 1918-09-14

New Tork.-Back of the meager OF
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 1act'
may be said to have had distinct
and definite bearing 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 command of the division, First
Lieutenant Guardabassi gave an ad-
mirable proof Of determination, energy
and bravery in a very difficult circum-
stance during the drive from the Car
so to the Piave, firmly checking sud-
den and threatening panic aroused
among the troops, Carso-Tagliamento,
Bridge of Latisana, 26 October, 1917"
Captain (then first lieutenant)
Guardabassi, by his action, prevented
the Italian retreat from the Carso to
the Piave from becoming disorderly
rout and transformed it into an or
derly retirement, which enabled the
italian forces to reform and to make
their position on the Piave impregna-
BILE. It 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 Guardabassi, who ut the
time was aid-de-camp Of General Pc
tillo. 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 TagliamentO he was
called to Rome and, because Of his
wide knowledge Of America and Amer
leans, was sent to the United States
on special mission from the Italian
government. Captain Gnrdabassi
was persuaded to tell the story of how
he won the decoration. It 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 Pl-
ave. There were no finer fellows In
the world than In the Third army, but
a wave Of encouragement swept
through the ranks. Were we to be
beaten?
"The Pieve 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. It
was only 40 miles back yet our army,
none of US, could realize this. It was
retreat. And 1t bec2me more and
more difficult to keep up the soldiers
morale, to hold them together.
'"The Third army numbered O,OOO.
1t was reduced during the campaign
from 100000 to 10000, but that was its
size when the retreat was ordered.
There were complications in the re-
treat, for down from the northwest
began to come detachments from the
Second army, mingling with our men,
tending to produce disorder.
Rain Makes Retreat Difficult.
II shall never forget how 1t rained
| during those days. The Carso-Taglia-
mento region is a marshy country.
Where we were was not far from the
| sea. In the retreat we had to keep to
the roads. This made our falling back
oil the harder.
II could never have done what haG
to do had 1t not been for my general,
General Petlllo, and the fact that I
was his aid-de-camp. Remember
that. besides the hurriedly retreatlng
soldiers pouring along the roads ev-
erywhere, disheartened and fearful. the
country people by thousands were re-
treating. Nobody knew what might
happen. The feeling was growing that
| the war was lost. That we would soon
make new stand and brilliant one
along the Piave and later retrieve ev-
| erything nobody realized. You ,uld
not have told them that.