The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-08-13

cemrades-EseapIne italians Make
Their Way TO Russia Afer Underup.
Ing Great Aardshies and Are Given
Warm Welcome.
N the little hamlet Of SalIccfa San
Giuliano. province Of Emilia. Italy,
lives shoemaker. Luigi Ghittoni, In a
modest home. he has four sons In the
army. Two are now at the front, and
two were captured by the Austrians.
One evening recently the door was
burst open roughly, and the sfioemhk.
er cried out In alarm: "Who Ia theres"
'It Is /, Edward. your SON." came
the answer. II have escaped from
Austria"
At the sound Of loved ones voice
the little home was thrown topsy.
turvy. and the good news few In a mo-
Tnent around the town. What gath.
ering there was Of friends, relatives
and family for welcoming him to the
home!
Edward still bore on his face traces
Of his hardships in captivity, and after
his escape. He Is thirty. He Ind
fought In Libya in the famous italian
African campaign. As soon as Ital,
declared war In 1915, he hastened
the front and took part In several en-
gagements. but July 20 ne was cap.
tured on San Michael. and for 81
months remained prisoner Of the
Austrians. He was taken to Labians
where he remained for six days and
was sent TO Mathausen. There he re-
mained till September. 1915.
Prisoners Fiossed PIteeusIy.
"Our life was a hard one" he said
''the suffering was great: the food
scant and OF the poorest quality; the
beatings with rods frequent and with
out pity. Among 30 many tortures
what racked the boys most was to be
compelled by force to help fay theiI
comrades tied to stake. This cruelty
was abolished. however, after the
death of Francis Joseph"
The opportunity to. escape came
however, and young Ghittonf proved
equal to the emergency. In Septem
ber he was sent vita q batch OF othel
prisoners to Hungary. Dommavater II
the Carpathians being their destina
ton.
I'VE were divided into squads o
25O." he continued. leach assigned +
cut down trees, which were to be uset
in Notifications. Our treatment dit
not improve, and the work was mad,
harder every day. Blows were strucl
II anyone refused to work. or let VI
for any reason. I received my full
share with the rest. Only one thinl
bore Us up, and that was the. hope o,
escape. In spite Of ali the difFicuitie'
we decided to regnin our liberty a
whatever cost. We were able to &c
some Austrian uniforms and accumu
late supplies. After that we awaited
our opportunity.
1.-TWO Of our companions. however.
Ghittoni continued. ''became impatient
and lenped over the stockade last Jan
uary. They were discovered irninedi
ately, shot by sentinels when they re
fused to halt, and returned to captiy
ity. What became Of them? We knew
nothing after that.
Slight Of US resolved to get away
We were divided into two squads. 4
few Days later the first succeeded Il
getting over the stockade, and we los
trace Of each other for the moment
No alarm was given by the Austrians
so we concluded that their getawa,
had been successful.
"A week later in the night the sec
ond squad leaped over the stockad
and made. for the Businesses Of tn
Carpathian mountains. A few mile
beyond we came to railway station
Warmly Greeted BY Russlans.
"A train was about to start for tn
Russian border. We climbed on board
A Hungarian trainman ogied us q
first. Then he got drowsy. The trail
covered IS hlometers and stopped
We got OF. Two by two we took dif
ferent ways to escape the notice Of th
sentinels. We asked the way to tn
Russian border With the utmost eau
ton. After long drudsery we wer
able to get bite to eat. For fv
days we dragged ourselves along. hal
starved. without Sign Of encourage
ment. We passed through six barbet
wire entanglements. We droppe,
finally to q little path covered witt
snow.
"At last we came upon d nilitar.
post. 1t happened to be the frst Rus
sian outpost Of a covered battery.
We were received az friends. ant
were supplied with bountiful rations
The Russians completed our Joy by re
uniting US with the four companionl
who had escaped a week before US
We were enabled through the assist
ance of the French military mission t
Oot ha ck IN TtAlvv