Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-22
ITALY REWARDS
AMERICAN HERO
Ellwood J. Rotan Returns
Home With Medals and
Battle Scars
TOUNDERCO OPERATION
Five Times Rejected Here,
Went Abroad to Drive Red
Cross Ambulance

Five times rejected for military serv-
fee, and finally accepted by the Fed
Cross. Ellwood J. Rotan, nephew Of
District Attorney Samuel p Rotan. has
returned TO his home after five months
service as an ambulance driver in
Italy. bringing with him the Cross de
Duerra. the Italian service medal. and
two wounds, for one of which he will
shortly undergo an operation.
At his home at Broad street and oak
lane today Mr.. Rotan spoke lightly OF
his own achievements and praised the
work of the Italians in the war
II want It known" he said. that tho
Italians are the finest type Of soldiers
and men. With all their privations and
suffering. lack of food and medical sup
plies, their work and, Nalor was equal
to, and in most instances exceeded that
of any army in Europe
He spoke of the Arlitti or shock
troops, as men OF the highest type of
physical perfection. These men we're
originally recruited from the prisons
and went into battle armed only with
hand grenades and knives.
"The Arditti saved Italy" he said.
'Their motto was 'Sempre Avanti'--al-
ways advancing-and they fought like
demons until either killed or incapaci-
tated."
Killed Nine with Knife
Mr.. Rotan displayed a knife presented
to him by captain of the Arditti, which
contains nine notches In It's handle. In
addition he brought with him the piece
Of shell which caused his second wound
piece of the shell that wiped out
twenty-five officers and men in n mess
hall where he was sitting. and a bomb
used by the Arditti.
Mr.. Rotan was cited during the last
great Italian offensive, which began OC-
tober "a, with about $50 other Amer
ican Red Cross men, he worked night
and day az an ambulance driver. getting
the wounded back OF the lines for treat
ment
The key 10 the military situation at
the time was Mount Asso'one, and il
was here that Mr.. Rotan was stationed
For days the barrage from both sides
had been terrifying. Everywhere the
mountain was Scared and battered by
the bursting of bombs dropped by the
Austrian airplanes almost unnterrupt-
edly. and men moved about in constant
danger of instant annhilation.
During the heat of n double barrage
one afternoon an italian captain came
up to Mr.. Rotan and his companion,
fhdTNtg oSteIHpAtil, pl 'HlttEc'
Gentlemen" he sa;d, word comes
down the mountain that the morale Of
our men is being undermined by the
cries OF our wounded who cannot be
removed, The barrageS have made the
road impossible, Vet there should be
an ambulance up there. | shall give no
orders for il IS almost certain death
TO attempt the "trip through the shells
But an ambulance would save our mo-
rale."
Mr.. Rotan looked at Mr. Os.erholm
"Well?' he asked quietly.
Come on" said Mr.. Osternolin lot 5
60"
They swung the car out and ran TO
the captain 10 report their departure.
"Good-by. gentlemen" he said.
Frankly. / do not believe YOU can get
through"
They passed through dozen miracles
of luck on the way up and, once arrived
at the scene of action, found enough
work for twenty men. Throughout the
battle, they kept carrying the wounded
to places from which their cries and
groans could not be- overheard and when
it was all over they made their way
again down the mountain and reported
10 the captain
Received Cross de Guerra
The officer looked az them and smiled
but said nothing. Then he personally
got them coffee and whisky and took
the cups and glasses away, st!l saying
nothing. For two weeks he sCarcel y
spoke 70 them, and they considered the
incident closed and put it down as only
part of days work.
Then. without any previous intmation
they were called before the STAFF auo
presented with the coveted Cross de
Guerra.
Mr.. Rotan got one piece OF shell .r
his leg during a bombardmeut, but hi!
serious wound is in the left groin. arC
It is troubling him TO such an eEten
that he cannot walk up more than on,
fight OF sLars without resting Their,
is a fragment of bone left IN the wouu,
and the blood vessels We're not proper,
reconnected by the surgeons. so tha
he has made up his miud to undergo az
operation in the hope Of being relieved
OF the constant pain.
This wound IS his reminder Of som
of the hot actions In the Brerta Val
ley. He and a companion, Joe King
Of Toledo. o, were working a. the NeI.