The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1918-09-06

MW
despatch announcing IT, award DT
tha Italian government of H. silver
medal for yalOr, virtually the highest
military recognition that can come to
mm Italian soldier, is one OFT the most
thrilling and romantic episodes MA &C.
entire war; one which, III fact, may
WV said w have had W distinct and
deAuita bearing upon the success of
th7 italian arms
The cable message announcing the
award. and which was published in
America w few days ago, read:
awarded tO First Lieutenant Che
later received his captaincy) Frances
ca Mario Guardabassi, Of Perugia,
while On the saf or the commander Or
division. Energetic co-operatOr of
the High Command Of the division
First Lieutenant Guardabassi gave an
admirable proof of determination,
energy and bravery III very diff
cult circumstance during the drive
from Tine CarsO to the Piave, firmly
checking a sudden and threatening
panic aroused among the troops
-Tagliamento. Bridge OF Latis-
ana, 20 October, 1917"
Captain (then first lieutenant)
Guardabassi, Inv his action, prevented
the Italian retreat from the Carso tn
the Piave from becoming disorderly
rout and transformed III into an or
derby retirement, which enabled the
Italian forces to reform and tO make
their position On the Piave impreg-
nabIe. It was Captain Guardabassi
who, standing virtually alone ON the
bridgehead of I4atiSana, inspired the
troops OF the Third Army to- hold
their ground when overwhelmed with
fear and panic.
Captain Guardabassi, who at the
time was aide de camp of General
Petillo, divisional commander i'm the
third army OF Italy, fl the last few
months has become familiar figure
An New York Following his achieve
ments ON the Tagliamento, he was
called to Rome and, because oft his
wide knowledge or America and
Americans, was sent To the United
States ON a special mission from the
Italian government. At the Wander
bilt Hotel, where H. resides while ira
New York, Captain sGuardabassi was
persuaded wv tell the story on how he
in his own words.
teYOu can imagine the spirit Of our
army last October" said he, when
our generals on the third army an
nounced that we were to- fall back
we had worked 10 hard to- establish
our line on the Tagliamento, and We
were w proud Now the orders came
that We were to get back on the
Piave- There were no finer fellows
in the world than i'm the third army,
but a wave OF encouragement swept
through the ranks. Were We to BE-
beaten?
1.-THE Piave line was stronger lit
was our natural line There We
could hold Oft the Austrians coming
down from the north and prevent
their breaking into the italian plains.
It was only forty miles back vet our
army, none off IT,. could realize this
It was retreat. And it became
more and more difficult To keep up
the soldiers morale, To hold them to-
gether.
s.The Third Army numbered 4OO,-
900. TT was reduced during the cam
paign from 100000 To 10000, but that
dered There were complications i'm
the retreat, fOr down from the north
east began to come detachments from
the Second Army, mingling with our
men, tending to- produce disorder
t'I shall never forget how it rained
during those days. The Carso-Tag-
Hamentc region IS marshy country.
Where we were was not far from the
sea Urn the retreat we had 10 keep
to- the roads This made our falling
back AIT the harder
s1 could never have done what
had 70 DO had ii not been for my gen
eral, General PetillO, and the fact
that Twas his aide de camp. Re-
member that, besides the hurriedly
retreating soldiers pouring along the
roads everywhere, disheartened and
fearful, the country people by thou
sands were retreating. Nobody knew
what might happen. The feeling
was growing that the war was lost,
That we would soon make a new
stand and, brilliant one along the
Piave and later retrieve everything
nobody realized, You could not have
told them that.
fortunately, my general and !
were close 10 q very important cross
ing of the Tagliamento, the bridge at
Latisano. Marshes were ON every
hand, tn reality there were two
bridges, a railroad bridge and one
for foot passengers Soldiers and
people were pouring over the latter.
It was seven o'clock i'm the morning.
The rain-driYen air was filled with a
sense OF the unexpected and OF gloom.
All any moment our men were likely
to break into panic.
Suddenly from out of nowhere.
down the rails, came a locomotive, a
locomotive alone, crowded with sol
diers. They were waving and yell
ing. There was no sign of a train.
# never imagined 20 many men could
get on a locomotive before.
THE locomotive shot over the rail
road bridges. III disappeared, leaving
behind great uneasiness and added
depression Then the CRY arose,
The Austrian cavalry"
THAT cry increased Everybody
took y up. III spread through the
ranks of hurriedly marching soldiers
III swept through the disordered
groups of country people crowded ir
among them. It was half believed
then believed, then II grew to be 8
certainty. Nobody knew. and the
doubt made the fear The panic o.