The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-09-11
Wins Highest Military Recogni.
ton That Can Come to Sol.
der of His Country.
SAVES ARMYFROMA UsTRIANs
francesca Mario Guardabassi Gives
Graphic Picture Of One OF the Most
Thrilling and Romantic Epi-
sodes of the War.

est military recognition that can ONE
to an italian soldier, is one of the
most thrilling and romantic episodes
Of the entire war; n which, in fact,
may be said to have had a distinct
and definite bearing upon the success
of the italian arms.
The cable message announcing the
award, and which was published In
America q few days ago, read:
Awarded to First Lieut.. Che later
received his c%aptaincy) Francesca
Mario Guardabassi of Perugia, while
on the staff of the commander of divi-
sion. Energetic co-operator of the
high command Of the division, First
Lieutenant Guardabassi gave an adj
mirable proof of determination, energy
and bravery in q very difficult circum-
stance during the drive from the Car
so to the Piave. firmly checking a sud-
den and threatening panic aroused
among the troops, acknowledgements,
Bridge of Latisana, 26 October, 1917"
Captain (then first ~lieutenant)
Guardabassl. by his action, prevented
the Italian retreat from the Carso to
the Piave from becoming a disorderly
rout and transformed it into an or
derby retirement, which enabled the
italian forces to reform and to make
their position on the Piave i~mpregna-
BILE 1t was Captain Guardabassi who,
standing virtually alone on the bridge
head of Latisana, inspired the troops
Of the Third army to hold their ground
when overwhelmed with fear and
panic.
IL Here on Special Mission.
Captain G~uardabassi. who at the
time was aid-de-camp of General Pc
tillo, divisional commander In the
Third army of Italy, in the last few
months has become a familiar figure
In New York. Following his achieve
ments on the Tagliamento he was
called to Rome and, because of his
wide knowledge of America and Amer
leans, was sent to the United States
on a special mission from the Italian
government. Captain Guardabassi
was persuaded to tell the story of how
he won the decoration. II is best told
In his own words:
"You car imagine the spirit of our
army last October" said he, awhen
our generals of the Third army an
nounced that we were to fan back.
We had worked so hard to establish
u line on the Tagliamento, and we
were so proud. Now the orders came
that We were to get back on the Pr
ave. There were no finer fellows In
the world than in the Third army, but
a wave of discouragement swept
through the ranks. Were we to be
beaten?
"The Piave line was stronger~-it
was our natural line. There we could
hold Off the Austrians coming down
from the north and prevent their
breaking into the Italian plains. II
was only 40 miles back yet our army
none Of us, could realize this. IT was
a retreat. And II became more and
more difficult to keep up the soldiers
morale, to hold them together.
"The Third army numbered 100000
1t was reduced during the campaign
from 100000 to 10000, but that was Its
size when the retreat was ordered
There were complications in the re
treat, for down from the northwest
began to come detachments from the
Second army. mingling with u men
tending to produce disorder.
Rain Makes Retreat Difficult.
81 shall never forget how 1t rainet
during those days. The Carso-Taglia
mento region is a marshy country
Where we were was not far from thu
sea. In the retreat we had to keep Il
the roads. This made bur falling bacl
all the harder.
II could never have done what / hat
to do had 1t not been for my general
General Petillo, and the fact that
was his aid-de-camp. Remembe
that, besides the hurriedly retreatin'
soldiers pouring along the roads ev
erywhere, disheartened and fearful, tn
country people by thousands were re
treating. Nobody knew what nigh
happen. The feeling was growing tina
the war was lost. That we would 500
make a new stand and a brilliant on
along the Piaye and later retrieve e,
erything nobody realized. You e1ul
not have told them that.
Fortunately, my general and / wer
close to a very important crossing {
the Tagliamento, the bridge at LatiI
ano. Marshes were on every hand.
reality there were two bridges, a raj
road bridge and one for foot passel
gers. Soldiers and people were pou
ing over the latter. 1t was seve
o'clock In the morning. The rail-
! driven air was filed with a sense {
the unexpected and Of gloom. At an
moment our men were likely to brea
into panic.
j Suddenly from out Of nowher'
down the rails. came . locomotive,