The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-10

HlIILIlIOAn Mu UnuOO
| ACTIVITY IN ITALY
Hard to- Make Asstsians Believe the
Armfstice was Really . Fact.
The first Americans to enter Austrian
territory! That's the record OF the
American Red Cross In italy. An inter-
esting account of how this was ac-
complished in various places by differ
emit Red Cross workers is brought to
us by Major Guy Lowell. director OF
military relief OF the American Red
Cross in Italy. Major Lowelrs party
anticipating the armistice, was the
first to enter the Austrian Fyrol This
y me ~ signing q ,ns xvr,nsss .ssis,ssts>s2
Several Of nn Red Cross workers
were in the Trentino on November Z,
relates Major Lowell. I'VE had been
| looking for the armistice and received
the same false news as received mere
in America. There had been rumors
that tho Germans were sweeping from
southern Bavaria into the Tyrol In
order to prevent the Italians coming
up. for 1t will be remembered that the
terms of the armistice with Austria
compelled Austria to prevent supplies
going through into Germany. and at
the Same time, to allow the Italian
troops to advance towards Germany.
Realizing that there would be many
i italian prisoners returning into italy
from the Tyrol. we got all our ambu-
tlances and supply cars ready to move
at a MON ent's notice. Then an italian
army captain. who was our llason or
fcsr, an American ambulance driver
n M r.
rangements.
Crossing the border into Austria
we came. after several hours riding,
near to a city which. for personal rea-
sons, do not care to name. Then our
machine broke down. No sooner had
we reached Austrian territory. how
ever, than we began to suspect thar
there was some mistake about the
armistice especially when our car with
its two American and one Red Cross
hars made the Austrian and German
officers whom we passed bristle with
icurtosity. While we were in this
dilema, an Austrian stan car came
along, picked our machine up. and
dragged US into town. We did not
know Just exactly what they were go
ing TO do with us, but they detached
our automobile and left us standing
th~ra in the middle of tho square.
II had been In this town before In
the hotel was. When we went up to
1t. the proprietor came out. delighted
to see ue, enchanting. How hnppy l am
to welcome Americans aea'n' You're
the arst tourist 7 have seen In four
years He gave us good quarters. ana
when we were washed up We went
down to the dinira-room. AS we en-
tered tho room, whtch was ei'ed with
German and Austrian officers the
young American driver who followed
me exclaimed, My Cod They are all
armed" The young italian OFFICER
replied. Well. we picked up enough
souvenirs on the wsv 10 protect the
, whole army" Althoueh we were try
, III to put a brave face on the situa
tion. I must confess that irwardfy we
felt II to he rather ludcrous one.
Put we walked in heads up. saiut'ng,
. we advanced. the Austrian and Ger
, man OFFICERS. We received no recoC-
milton from the ener~~ Officers until
we were halt way down the room. when
twenty or thirty feet away from us.
an old German general. with long white
heard and bald head, stood at atten-
: tion, md. as we came nearer. returned
) our salu.es Following his example
: every other officer In the dining room
then returned our salute.
. believed AvmfStic~ I'm p~safhi~.
, when we were seated at the table
the kelnerin fthe German name for
v'sitreesl carried messages back and
T forth We insisted that the German
: arrnistiee was on. while they main
tanned that II was not possible. After
> dinner that evening. with our civilian
guard. which was watching us. we went
over to a beer garden. Fere the only
vacant table was the "starnttsch.' re-
served for the leading guests We were
I at once taken by the hosnitahle pro-
= prietor to this table We had been
IL IA 49,
we were Joined by some German and
2 Austrian officers We were soon jpk-
= ing and laughing together and at one
. another very much unlike enemies,
J., and was kept busy translating the
! good natured remarks fer my two
companions. SO we had quite jolly
evening
But even before this, as enrly as
I October 90. Lieutenant Rogers. who
I was stationed at Cavaxucherino on the
{ Piave crossed tho pontoon bridge a,
. Sandovi. He WAS really the first Amer
z team to go into enemy territory. his
1 car being ueed to test the ponsoor
bridge built across the Piave. and ovei
, which the Arditi Che italian shock
tcupied by the enemy. The car wher
IT reached the bridge was loaded with
supplies. but II was unioaded to bt
= driven across. After which 1t was re-
ID loaded by italian engineers. Whef
!. this was accomplished. Lieutenant Rog'
v ers went hack to vicen1a. while Lieu.
Q tenant Mcconnell went ahead. Lieuten'
{ ant Rogers returning later witf
r camions containing coffee. sugar, con
d densed milk and soup
= ION November 6 two of our lieuteu
: ants went In advance Of the italian
Y troops into Trieste. The army wa
stili Atty kilometers behind them. bu
they went forward into the Austrian
: lines and were greeted by Austrian
: officers who did not attempt to stoI
y them, Here they gave the ItAliai
: prisoners badly needed food.
Y ION October 80 still another groui
. OF Red Cross workers entered Bel
o luno Distributing good American foos
= to the population. In that nrst day
= we served over 10000 people. Also W.
y helped to serve the wounded who Ia,
Y been attacking along the Piave, tn,
q ambuisnces bringing In enormous mum
n hers Of them from the battlehelds o
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