Evening star., 1945-05-13
Map Had Been Wrong

Late one night, Mr.. Orebaugh said,
suddenly and before we realized what
was happening we found ourselves in the
main piazza of the town of Calderola,
which was Illuminated in brilliant moon
light"
My map had been wrong he con-
tinued, "but it was too late to turn back
now. A long line of trees ran the length
of the street, and among these trees my
companion and I saw a group of five
persons.
'As we approached the group, we saw
BELTS that two of them were Carbinieri
and that the three others were Fascist
militiamen. 1t was bad moment.
Shifting my cane from my right
hand to my left, I grasped my pistol.
Giovanni shifted his pack slightly
and, with his right hand holding gre
made, we cautiously proceeded.
The group of five watched us closely
but we did not move SO much as
muscle. Apparently they were as
frightened as we were.
watching them all the while, we
walked down side street and soon
reached the town limits"
Story Kept Secret
Mr.. Orebaugh reached the Allied lines
on May 10, 1914, and after long consulta-
tions with Army officers about supplies
to the Partisans, flew back to the United
States, reaching here last May %.
He had joyous reunion with his wife
and son, who were living in Falls
Church, Va, got long rest and then
worked in the State Department until
he was assigned last fall to go back to
Florence as American consul. Mrs. Ore
baugh went with him this time.
Mr.. Orebaugh told me about his ad
ventures months ago but his story
which puts to shame those critics of the
American foreign service who say that
our diplomats all wear white spats and
spend their time at tea parties-had to
be kept secret until there was no danger
that its disclosure would endanger the
lives of the italians with whom he had
worked.
Following the end of the war in
Europe, the State Department gave per-
mission for the story to be published.
American Consulate Opened
The adventure really began for Mr..
Orebaugh on November 5, 1912. He then
was American consul at Nice, France.
He received there urgent telephone in
structions to open an independent Office
Immediately in Monaco. BY noon the
next day the American flag was flying
at a corner of the Hotel Metropole
where two rooms were turned into the
American consulate-the first ever to be
established there.
The reason for this move became ap-
parent on November when Allied forces
invaded North Africa and all American
consulates in France were closed-it
was the hope that listening post might
be maintained in Monaco.
But the Italians moved in and on
November II took Mr. Orebaugh pris-
oner. On November 80 he was put on
train for Italy. There he was held for
months under bad conditions at Gubbio
before being transferred to pleasant
resort hotel at Perugia on March %,
1943.
Plans Escape
Life at Perugia was uneventful until
the Badoglio government armistice with
the Allies was announced the following
september 8. Within couple of days.
Mr.. Orebaugh said, he heard that the
Germans were only few miles away
and "I made up my mind to have try
Ut escaping" rather than wait for pos
sible diplomatic exchange.
The escape consisted simply of pack
ing his belongings and walking to a
previously arranged hideout, a room