Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-06

the main facts were cabicd on the day
of tho visit. But there arc some addi-
tional details worth recording now
that Gorizia stands out SO symbolicaily.
Entering the city. we passed tho cN-
tcnSivc Jesuit establishment, where COO
scminarians were located. ono corner
was knocked on the corniccS were
hanging and several big holes told
where the shells had found Il mark.
The main contour OF the street was pre-
served. and the buildings were intact
as n whole. but every second or third
had been hit, some collapsins entirely,
others with their front wall gone and
their upper rooms with household goods
| showing from the street. But there
was no vast area OF completely lcvcled
debris as At Ncrdun or Monastir. The
I outlines of II city were etUl there, but
! it was a city SicNcd by bombardmcut.
| Ono modest dwelling stood out az NC
=, hurried along. not by iis ruin. but by
| its cheer in the midst of this deSolation.
| There were simple lace curtains in the
! windows. from one OF which !; pretty
| little Italian girl MAS looking down on
4 her garden. She was quite unconscious
! of the shell fire all about. and called
! down to her companion below. Some
/ OF The big buildings had their walls
! shorcd mp with long timbers to keep
| them from topping over. At tho the
| alter, in the center OF the city, the
| billboardS showed tho remnants OF the
| last performance. months ago. when "A
company of Nicnncse players appeared
| in comedy. Now there were ifrcmcn
standing in tho thcater lobby. the fire
engine was III the orchestra floor. and
the engine horses had the green rooms.
There was no use looking for hotel.
for here were guests now, and be-
sides. all the hotels had been wiped
out. The main hotel a handsome Struc-
ture on the main corner, was de-
molished by the explosion OF two
twelve-inch shells. which landed
have been Sreat. and the material de-
struction was complete. not u NestiGe
OF the building remaining. except great
heaps OF debris. The cathedral near
by, had also received a shell through
the roof. just over tho altar. All the
stained glass windows were Shivercd.
and the bits lay on the ground. Look
ing through ono IL these empty win
dows. we could sec tile wrecked altar,
with its ratings twisted and its marble
sides blasted into fragments.
The visit to the citadel was the
event of the day. This is a huge pile,
with old-tip,e moM and ba;tlements.
and great tower dominating the
whole country for miles around. Hero
NC we're 10 view Mt Gabriel Mt.
Michel. the Biausizza plateau and the
( whole range OF ground which had
/ passed through this upheavai. |, was
uphill 10 the citadel. Everything
showed the havoc OF long. continued
fire. In one great court there was
pretty little chapel. which had come
I through the ordeal untouched. though
all around was wreck.
COMMANDING VIEW IS
HAD FROM RATTLEMENTS
once w the ba.ilements. a command
! ing view was ahead. There Was one
point OF vantage where this Wow was
particularly good. known as tho OBJ
scrration post. We halle moment,
about 10 enter the post. hut others
wished 10 push on IL the very front
Of the wall, and this view prevailed.
Ii was a most fortunate decision a. W c
soon after had reason 10 know.
ON the battlements a splendid view
stretched out for miles over this battle
ground OF mountains, valleys and
pia ms, with the city houses clustered
below and tho roads winding off
through the valleys and foothills
There in front Wa Mount 81 Gabriel
this ide held by tho Italians, the other
by the .AustrianS.
There runs tho dividing line said
the escort. pointing t. line al trees
and dcprcssions near The summit.
The Italian trenches could be plainly
seen. But there wae no need OF in
dicating dividing line. for tho burst:
; of smoke along one side Of the summit
and the answering bursts from the
other side told where the line was. of
TO tho left was Mount 81. Michel. once
swept clean by she'll fire. but now
green again. Nestled IN a hollow was
, the convent OF 81. Catcrina., Tho Bian.
sizza plateau was of 10 the left, ant
through tho mist were the dim out.
lines OF snow topped Mount Nero. tina,
outpost Of the Italian advance.
As We stood surveying this scene
. there MAS the steady rumble Of guns
with the crack Of quick -frcre. and ther
, the long 'whiz" Of cver-passinG shells
But there WAS one ''whiz' which in
stamtly engaged every attention. W,
could hear i, coming, and it was no
5 going over. nor Under. nor at cithel
5 side. Every one instinctivcl. rccoi!cd
J and then
Crash.
, Five Of US went down in a hear
stunned a with hammer blow. Their
WAS great cnvclopins noise. with tn
smash and crack OF walls the flying .
: fragments and then tho hcavc Of ton
OF earth, mortar and masonry, p!owc,
) ip by tile huge missile.
: OBSERVATION POST Is
: SWEPT COMPLETELY AVA,
= IL had struck that observation post
I Just fifteen feet away, which NC wer
5 about to enter. There was no NOR
r observation post; il wa@ swept clean
! But fortunately. tho slicll had gon
, straight through, hattcring down mas
Airc wallis and digging a deep trencl
into the earth where 1t had explode
D kundcr ground, throwing up crea
1 r.ysers But. while the earth an,
: stones few like hail. the undcrgroun,
, explosion had held the shell fragments
Stunned a we were, tho first nupuls
was of Self-prcscryation \ hast,
: glance showed no one was Sc-iousl,
! injured, though tho trich!e Of bloc,
. on the right temple of one Of the part,