The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-01-06


There was no use looking for hotel
for there were no guests now, and be-
sides all the hotels had been wiped
out. The main hotel, q handsome struc-
ture on the main corner was demol.p
ished by the explosion OF two l2inch
shells which landed squarely inside
The loss of life must have been great
and the material destruction was com.
plete. not a vestige of the building re-
naming, except heaps of debris. The
cathedral nearby had also received a
shell through the roof just over the
altar. All the stained glass windows
were shattered and the bits lay on the
ground. Looking through one of these
empty windows we could see the
wrecked altar with its railings twisted
and its marble sides blasted into frag.
ments.
The visit to the citadel was the event
Of the day. This is a huge pile with
old.time moat and battlements, with
great tower dominating the whole coun.
/ try for miles around. Here we We're to
view Mt Gabriel, Mt. Michel, the Ran-
sizza plateau and the whole range Of
ground which had passed through this
upheayal. 1t was uphill to the citadel.
/ Everything showed the havoc OF long.
continued Hre, In one great court there
was a pretty little chapel which had
come through the ordeal untouched,
though all around was wreck
Commanding View Ahead.
Once up the bdttements q command.
ing view was ahead. There was one
point of vantage where this view was
particularly good, known as the oh.
about to enter the post, but others
wished to push on to the very front Of
the wall, and this view prevailed. 1t
was a most fortunate decision as we
soon after had reason to know
On the battlements 4 splendid view
stretched out for miles over this battle
ground Of mountains, valleys and plains,
with the city houses clustered below
ana the roads winding OF through the
valleys and foothills There in front
was Mount st. Gabriel. this side held
by the Italians and the other by the
Austrians
There runs the dividing line" said
the escort pointing to Il line of trees
and dcpressions near the summit
The Italian trenches could be plainly
seen. But there was no need of ndi.
eating a dividing line, for the bursts OF
smoke along one side Of the summit
and the answering bursts from the
other side, told where the line was. OF
to the left was Mount ST Michel, once
swept clean by shell fire but now green
again. Nestled in a hollow was the
convent OF ST. Catarina. The Bian.
sizza plateau was off to the left, and
through the mist were the dim outlines
, Of snow.topped Mount Nero, that out
post Of the Italian advance.
As We stood surveying this scene
there was the steady rumble Of guns
with the crack Of quick. frers, and then
the long "whiz" Of cver.passing shells
But there was one "whiz" which in
stantly engaged every attention We
could hear It's coming and II was not for
going over, nor under nor at either
side Everyone instiuctively reconed
and then
Crash
Five Of us went down in a heap
. stunned as with 4 hammer blow Their,
= was great enyeoping noise, with tn,
smash and crack of walls, the nvin.
Of fragments, and then the heave 0
= tons Of earth, mortar and masonrl
- ploughed up 10y the huge missile.
; just Fifteen Feet Away.
\ Ii had struck that observation post
Il just fifteen feet awa., which we wer
II about to enter There was no NOR
observation post; it was swept clear
But fortunately the shell had gon
i straight through, battcring down ma.
sive walls and digging a deep trenc
4 in the earth where it had exploded III
II foreground throwing up great geyser,
n But while the earth and stones heI
Il like hail, the underground explosion
II had held the shell fragments. Stunne
as We were the first impulse was q
II sell-preserya;iOn. A hasty glanc
showed no one was seriously injured
Il though the trickle Of blood on the righ
temple OF one Of the party told that
flying stone had found a mark.
II They have this range" said the g,
cort, as We struggled to our feet, "an
one shot means that another will TO
low"
There was a hasty scramble from tn
battlement, over the tons of debri
ii thrown up, which now completed
blocked the rhree-foot path skirtin
the wall VIII Irwin, of New Yorl
had been nearest the shell when
struck ana was not only half covere
by the upheaval but the flying ella
came with such force that it fastene
to his stOrmcoat as though put on b
a masons trowel. The man with III
blood on his temple was taken to
nearby military hospital, located in III
citadel, whore the trihing cut wa
dressed by the surgeons as a matter
III precaution against infection.
This shell had suddenly brought
close our observation Of the battl
front with all its tragedy and majest
beauty. But worst of all it put q
end to all visits to Gori2ia, for the q
ticer said no further chances Of III
kind could be taken and on his recor
mendation the general staff that nigl
ordered discontinuance of all visit
II was just as well, for now the gre,
offensive Of the enemy burst unexpeC
edly, and with it came the retreat fro
the Gorzia line. Fortunately, or IL
fortunately | had seen it at the last m
ment when the tide was turning
At the cafe where we went for lun,
the officer from headquarters laid o
the big military map ON the table al
explained the military situation. 1t W.