The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-13
VIENNA FLIGHT ADDS
TO POETS LAURELS
People Now Hail D'Annunzio
as Embodiment Of Spirit
Of Italy.
TELLS OF FAMOUS TRIP
Austrians Alarmed as Govern
ment Seizes Manifestoes
Dropped by Filters.
~ WARD PRICE.
Special cable Dsspatch 10 TEE Sen from the
london Tirrss


Special cable Dsspotch 70 TIE SEX from the
london times.
Copyright 1917: all rights resey7ed
wTrH THE ITALIAN Army, Aug. IA
The feat OF Captain-Poet d'Annunzio in
flying to Vienna where ne and the
| leaflets into the streets Of tho Austrian
| capital, 10 recognized as ono Of the
greatest exploits Of the war. The flight
would have been big event even in
peace times,
All except one Of the Italian machines
| returned. and tho missing pilot. when
last seen by his companions, was lean
ing sideways In his seat as though ex-
hausted by his hard fight with the
storms encountered above the Alps
The machines used were OF the latest
type OF Italian scout planes. capable Of
$50 miles an hour. All were single
| seaters except D'Annunsio's. which had
small observers seat built for his
use In front Of the pilots seat.
Several times before the night actually
was started the fiers were ready to go.
but each time weather conditions
changed almost at the last minute.
Finally the sky was Just right when the
ayiators looked out at dawn, and one
by one they rose into tho air TO greet
tho rising sun. DAnnunzio describes
the night as a triumph Of will over ma
ture. as the Italian General Stan had
decided that II there was any more delay
the attempt would have to be abandoned.
D'Annunsio Describes Flight.
II had made up my mind" said the
poet-aviator. that regardless Of the
weather we finally would make our
start. Our route lay through Cortel-
laxo, Cividal. Klagenfurt. Reichenfels.
Kappenberg. Neuberg. Wiener and Neu-
stadt. Coming back we took a parallel
course to the east. crossing the Adriatic
with three Italian destroyers below. In
Laibach a heavy barrage was sent UP
against us, but on the whole journey
we saw only one enemy airplane and
that was near Trieste. Yet II the Aus
TRANS had had It In them they could
have telephoned to Vienna that we were
coming. so that every one OF their chas-
ers could have been out to meet us.
Over Vienna lay pale blue mist.
and when We let go OF our manifestoes
they drifted down like leaves falling in
the autumn.
AS we turned homeward showers
came UP behind US, but we didn't mind.
Soon We passed over beautiful. captive
Trieste, and It was sad to see the city
shining in the sun. Twice on the re-
turn journey the engine in our machine
faltered. az though weary, but my pilot
with wonderful skill coaxed 1t back into
action"
Achievements Remarkable.
DAnnunslo is one of the most remark
able personalities standing out in the
confusing BACKGROUND OF war. Famous
as poet and dramatiSt and as the
creator. Of a new italian literature. he
has been much discussed because of his
luxurious tastes. yet he stepped into the
forefront OF battle as a soldier when
more than so years old. and since then
he has added exploit to exploit TO his
list OF achievements. stealing Into the
enemy's lines at night, sailing into mine
swept fields in small boat to torpedo
enemy warsh!ps. carrying out the long
est and most dangerous air raids
He Is now the regular commander Of
a squadron of picked young airmen. He
Is the embodiment of the spirit of italy,
and rightly so, for more than any other
he has labored to create that spirit.
But with all the homage his feats of
war have won he has the modesty Of q
true soldier. and neither by his bearing
nor his spoken or written word does he
ask greater credit than that OF having
fought for his country.
ZURICH. Aug. 1.-THE authorities in
Vienna have ordered the public to hand
over every piece Of propaganda litera-
ture dropped by italian airmen last Fri
day and threaten severe penalties for
failure TO do so.
There was wild scramble in the
streets for the pamphlets when they were
dropped. Some sold for as high as
twenty crowns.
The Reichspost reminds the Viennese
that since the daring Italian flight they
no longer can consider themselves i'm
mune to the horrors OF warfare.