The Washington herald., 1920-08-01
CONTINUED FROM PAGE TWO.

Washington shortly before he was
discharged from the Italian army.
in appreciation OF important diplo-
matte services rendered during the
war. He also has been given the
highest Of Italian military decora-
tiOns in recognition Of his services
as a soldier.
Count Enrico Luserna comes
from one of the oldest and most
aristocratic of Italian families,
whose history is traced back to the
tenth century. He comes from a
line of soldiers and for years was
a captain in one of the crack
cavalry regiments of the italian
regular army. He had resigned his
commission though and was on the
Riviera when Italy declared war
against the Hun. He hurried home
and enlisted at Florence, being
given the rank OF captain and put
to work solving problems of trans
pOrtation. Later he wanted more
active service and became captain
in the Nineteenth Artillery Regi-
mcnt. He was withdrawn from this
service and went on an important
mission to Africa. his steamer haN-
ing narrow escapes from subma-
rines and rescuing passengers from
French boat, which had been
sunk by one of the Austrian subs
which preyed the Mediterranean.
Later on his return from Africa he
went to the general headquarters
Of Gen. Cadorna at Udine, where
he was stationed when ordered to
go to Washington, d. C, as as
sistant military attache from Italy
20 the United States.
Count Luserna tells many in
teresting stories of the war in the
mountains
SPY SHOT IN
FEW MINUTES.
The Austrians were skilled al
sending spies into our ranks, and II
was through such treachery that
much damage was done he says
one day at officers mess a visiting
officer was pesent. He was a yOung
man and on his breast were dis
played a multitude of decorations
He wore the uniform of famous
Italian regiment whiSl had seer
much heavy fighting. The decOra
tions- proved his downfall. He wa!
questioned at first casually ant
then closely in regard to the vari
Gus medals he wore and for wha
they had been awarded. An ItaliaT
officer next to him detected him il
false statement. You damned
Austrian spy. he said. A few mo
ments later a firing squad ha'
claimed him.
Count Luserna was at Cdin'
when through Austrian trCaCherI
vast ammunition dump was eX
DIodcd. Thousands of high explosive
shells and airplane bombs com
menccd going off with terrific re
ports, wrccking buildings and kill
ing soldiers and civilians.
1T was a bright, sunny day
Captain Luserna says. At II
o'clock came the first noise of thu
explosion. 1t was 4 o'clock in tn,
afternoon before the last shell wen
off In five minutes after the frs
noise the town was dark through
clouds Of black smoke. I was il
the offices Of general headquarter:
when the explosion happened. BOol
cases fell down and the glass wa!
shattered from every window
civilians were in many cases liter
ally paralyzed with fright. We hat
TO take all the civilian population
to a place Of safety since We feared
that the fire might reach huge
gasoline storage system which. i
ignited. would have wiped the towT
on the map. The gasoline did no
explode. however.
In the United States Count Lu
Scrna was kept busy handling i'm
pUrjant business as liaison Office
between the Italian and the Ameri
IAN general stats He was unde
the Italian general acting As mil
itary attaChe and Baron Romano
the Italian Ambassador His eff
cheney attracted attention such a
10 win him decorations which ar
sDaringIv given.