Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1918-12-25
Three Brothers
By ALAN EIINsDALE

were fighting in the mountains, the for
mer slowly working their way down to-
ward Trieste 1t was slow work. The
Italians after pulling guns up decliv-
ity would spend months in reducing the
works of the Austrians on a height
where they had established themselves
on the other side of a depression in
/ the mountains. Then they would take
up the position the Austrians had left,
the Austrians would establish them
selves on another defenSible height,
and the work of reduction would begin
again.
In the Italian artillery forces there
was a gunner named Luigi Marini,
though he was known only to his fell
low soldiers as Luigi. Me was re-
markable artillerist. Eschewing the
modern contrivances for range finding,
he would aim his pieces and it re-
/ CURED but two or three shots from
him to strike an object across valley
several miles broad. He did such good
work that his officers did not attempt
! to impress their instructions upon him.
/ but left him to demolish breast works
and dismantle guns any way he sawxfit
When Luigi's gun was once in posi-
i ton, it was always placed behind q
erOck-it was left him to serve, the rest
+ OF the squad going to other duties. Only
! one person remained, STRIPPING boy,
named Arturio with no beard on his
face, who helped him while loading the
| gun. When ARTURO was not thus en-
I hn hkar ioIy ofr 10
TRANS with his rifle. He seemed de-
voted to Luigi and both were attached
to the gun. They were known among
the troops as the three brothers, Luigi,
Arturio, and the gun.
At one time the three brothers were
operating across valley so narrow
that they could use both the gun and
the rifle.
But the enemy soon saw the neces-
sity of stopping this effective work.
An officer with pair of glasses kept
watch Of the Italian lines and after
awhile located the spot whence came
the shots that were doing so much
damage. He called TO one of his own
gunners, pointed out the rock behind
which Luigi's gun was stationed and
told him to put it out of commission.
The gunner began to send shots to the
location indicated and at the fifth shot
two of the three brothers were knocked
out. One was Luigi, the other was the
gun. Luigi was killed and the gun was
dismantled and rolled down the noun
tain side.
ARTURO was not injured, but he was
thrown into great grief by the loss of
his brothers. He was found weeping
and Infringing his hands. This was not
considered very soldierly but Arturto
had done such good work that his COM
rades were disposed to excuse him.
(which are you weeping for, Ar
turio," asked comrade, Luigi or the
gun?"
Both" was the reply.
''Well, cheer up; there are more
guns just as good as the one you have
LOST
Yes, but there are no more
Luigis."
Arturio grieved all that day. His
captain ordered him to another gun.
He obeyed the order, but did not stick
to the gun. His captain found him be-
hind the rock which had protected LUZ
gi's gun
what is the matter with you?' ask
ed the captain. HAS the loss of your
! gun taken the courage out of you?
Go back to the gun to which ordered
YOU
ARTURO said nothing but went back
/ ~
ordered. But he was useless there
and those serving the gun told him
that they had no work for such a weak
ling, and he soon returned to his or
iginal position. The.captain having no
time to attend to his case he was left
there until the enemy were driven
from their line across the valley. and
took up a stand further on. While the
Italians were getting their guns across
the valley lowering them with ropes,
and raising them on the other side bv
the same means ARTURO went to head
quarters. The general happened to be
standing there smoking cigarette.
General said ARTURO, 81 would
like discharge
"On what grounds, my bow"
II am the wife of Luigi Marini.,
THE man who dismounted so many
of the enemy's gunsy
Eyes, general"
I have heard of the three brothers.
So you are the last, and a woman
Yes, general" she replied holding
her rifle toward him. II have avenged
the others. There are twenty-seyen
notches on the stock, one for each Aus
trian | have brought down with my
rifle since they killed my husband
The general examined the rifle and
the notches admiringly. Then the
woman held her hat to the light. It
was perforated with holes.
"What does this mean?v asked the
general.
i held my hat above the rock behind
which my husbands gun had been
placed, to draw the enemy's fire, so
i that I could see who shot r lvillad &c