La libera parola. [volume] (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1918-1969, 1918-08-24

La BANDIERA DELL 'ORDINE FIGL
D'ITALIA SVENTOLA IN PATRIA
II Colonnello c. p. Franklin
del COrpo d'Ambulanza che er;
mel campo di Allentown e a cui
Figli d'ltalia di questo State Of
frirono una bandiera italiana
SERVE una lettera al nostro Gran
de Venerable Giuseppe Di Silve
stro.
In essa, dopo di aver informa.
to ILL., Grande Venerable circa unS
di lui raccomandazione - fatts
subordinatamente allie prescribe.
nj dl legge - per una prospetti
va di avanzamento delPAvv. G.
T. Maioriello che da semplice
soldato presta servizio mel Colpc
di Ambulance, il Colonnello par.
la dele accoglienze ricevute in
Italia e della nostra bandiera.
Egli confelma Quello che gia
nol sapeVamo, cioe che le acco-
ghenze fatte allie truppe del Cor
po di Ambulanza sono state entu-
siastiche ed il loro cammino {
state 'letteralmente ricoperto di
fiori". L'ospitalita degli italiani
stata tale da far trascurare allie
vote doveri militari.
La bandiera offerta al Corpo
dAmbulanza dai Figli d'Italia di
Pennsylvania e stata superba-
mente spiegata al vento, e del pa
triottico dOno il Colonnello
Franklin ha informato il Mini
sho della guerra in Roma e attire
autorita militai che egh ha av-
vicinato. Molte fotografie - da
. .serVire anche per cinematografo
.- sono state prese della bandie-
Ia marciante a capo dele truppe,
ed egli promette di mandaIne
qualcuna appena 81 presentera
u'Occasione favOrevOle.
Ma sara meglio IiprodulTe in
tegralmente Ia Iettera mel suo te-
sto originate:
United States Army Ambulance
Service With the Italian Army
July "a, 1918.
My dear Mr.. Di Silvestro:
Your letter of June 3rd, 1918,
reaches me in Italy and this
explains my delay in answering.
In regard to the request for a
commission for Pvt. G. r. Maio-
riello ! would say in the first
place that very few, if any, com
missions will probably be issued
on this side Of the water and Sc
condIy, constant, continued and
efficient service will procure
same, and that in the war zone
here such matters necessarily
take a secondary place, there
being so far as | know at present
no vacancies for commissions. |
shall of course bear your request
in mind for future reference in
case an opportunity arises and
shall be very glad to use my good
offices so far as it is consistant
with military duties.
You will be pleased to know
that we have been enthusiastic
ally received by the Italians and
that we have been enthusiastic
far literally over a bed Of flo
Wers. The most cordial relations
exist between us and Italians of
all classes and ranks and their
hospitality has been such that ii
has been difficult at times To
accomplish our military duties,
The flag the Sons Of Italy pre-
sented to us has been displayed
here formally and / had the plea
sure Of telling the Minister OF
War i'm Rome about it and all the
other ranking Italian Military
Officials. Philadelphia i'm conse-
quence has loomed very large
on the italian map and in the
Italian mind. There have beer
many pictures, moving and still
taken of this flag at the head oil
our troops and when conditions
permit I hope to send one to yom
Society that your Society may
have it for record. Yours is the
first Italian flag from America t
be displayed here and I hav,
made it a point to give the homo,
to Philadelphia Society.
! Please, remember me to mr.
friends in your Society for whom
/ have the warmest regards ant
tell them that the MANY Italian
from Philadelphia with us an
doing good service and givin,
you all at home a good recor
and making a good record wit
your fellow countrymen owe
here. Truly yours,
: C. P. FRANKLIN, Lieut. OloHsI, A.A