Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 215, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1918 — CAPTAIN TELLS HOW HE HALTED ITALIAN FLIGHT [ARTICLE]

CAPTAIN TELLS HOW HE HALTED ITALIAN FLIGHT

New York.—Back of the meager official dispatch announcing the award by the Italian government of its silver medal for valor, virtually the highest military recognition that can come to an Italian soldier, is one- of the most thrilling and romantic episodes of the entire war; one 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 a few days ago, read: “Awarded to First Lieut, (he later received his captaincy) Francesco Mario Guardabassi of Perugia, while on the staff of the commander of division. Energetic co-operator of the high command of the division, First Lieutenant Guardabassi gave an admirable proof of determination, energy and bravery in a very difficult circumstance during the drive from the Carso to the Plave, firmly checking a sudden and threatening panic aroused among the troops, Carso-Tagllamento, Bridge of Latlsana, 26 October, 1917.” Captain (then first lieutenant) Guardabassi, by his action, prevented the Italian retreat from the Carso to the Plave from becoming, a disorderly rout and transformed it into an orderly retirement, which enabled the Italian forces to reform and to make their position on the Plave impregnable. It was Captain Guardabassi who, standing virtually alone on the bridgehead Of Latlsana, inspired the troops of the Third army to hold their ground when overwhelmed with fear and panic. ■- ' < To Here on Special Mission. Captain Guardabassi, who at the tilde was aid-de-camp of General Petlllo, divisional coipmander in the Third army of Italy, in the last few months has become a familiar figure In New York. Following his achievements on the Tagllamento he was called to Rome and, because of his wide knowledge of America and Americans, 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. It is best told In his own words: “You can imagine the spirit of our army last October," said he, “when our generals of the Third army announced that wejwere to fall back. We had worked so hard to establish our line on the Tagllamento, and we were so proud. Now the orders came that we were to get back on the Plave. 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 Plave 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 plalfts. It was only 40 miles back yet our army, none of us, could realize this. It was a retreat. And it became more and more difficult to keep up the soldiers’ morale, to hold them together. "The Third army numbered 400,000. It was reduced during the campaign from 400,000 to 70,000, but that was its size when the retreat was ordered. There were complications in the retreat, for down from the northwest began to come detachments from the Second army, mingling with our men, tending to produce disorder. Rain Makes Retreat Difficult. “I shall never forget bow it rained during those days. The Carso-Taglla-mento region is a marshy country. Where we were was not far from the sea. In the retreat we had to keep to the roads. This made our falling back all the harder. “I could never have done What I had to do had it not been for my general,. General Petlllo, and the' fact that I was his aid-de-camp. Remember that, besides the hurriedly retreating soldiers pouring along the roads everywhere, disheartened and fearful, the ■country people by thousands were rejtveatlng. Nobody knew what might happen. The feeling was growing that the war was lost That we would soon make a new stand and a brilliant one along the Piave and later retrieve everything nobody realized. You ould not have told them that

"Fortunately, my general and I were close to a very important crossing of the Tagllamento, the bridge at Latisano. Marshes were on every hand. In reality there were two bridges, a railroad bridge and one for foot passengers. Soldiers and people were pouring over the latter. It was seven O’clock in the morning. The raindriven air was filled with a sense of the unexpected and of gloom. At any moment our men were likely to break into panic. “Suddenly from out of nowhere, down the rails, came a locomotive, a locomotive alone, crowded with soldiers. They were waving and yelling. There was no sign of a train. I never imagined so many men could get on a locomotive before. Cry of Austrian Cavalry Raised. “The locomotive shot over the railroad bridges. It disappeared, leaving behind a great uneasiness and added depression. Then the cry arose, ‘The Austrian cavalry.’ “That .cry increased. Everybody took it up. It spread through the ranks of hurriedly marching soldiers, it swept through the disordered groups of country people crowded in among them; it was half believed, then believed, then it grew to be a certainty. Nobody knew, and the doubt made the fear. The panic began. • “I did not know whether the Austrian cavalry Was coming or not, but I did know that this panic must be checked and at once. I sprang forward through the soldiers, and ran to the front of the bridge. “ ‘You fools,’ I yelled out, and again and again I said it, waving my arms. •You fools, get Into line! The Aus-

trian cavalry is not coming. That is a lie!* I had to be believed. I had to make them believe me. “It took hours, two, three, nearly four. I never left the bridge. I shouted and shouted. It was forcing an idea through the heads of a hundred thousand men. "Why the soldiers and the countrypeople did not sweep me down into the river, trample me, kill me in their excitement, I do not know. All I knew was that the panic must' be stopped. And it was. Before the morning was over the troops were moving in an orderly way. Proud of His Silver Medal. “That was why the government gave me a silver medal. lam proud of it —more proud than I have ever been of anything.” Captain Guardabassi is a member of the Italian Grenadier guards, composed of six-footers and recruited from the best families of Italy. So heavy have been the losses of the Grenadier guards that they have been made over three times. Captain Guardabassi is one of the very few survivors of the first detachment of the Grenadier guards that at the beginning of the war went into, action. He began his military career as a private; was quickly promoted to corporal, and within four months became a second lieutenant. Previous to the declaration of war by Italy on the central empires, Captain Guardabassi was an artist and had a studio in Paris which was frequented by many prominent Americans. At the outbreak of the war he immediately closed hts studio. His knowledge of America came to him both from the many Americans he met in Paris during his career as an artist and also while a member of the Metropolitan Opera company here. He has been In America many times and enjoys the friendship of the most prominent figures in the social life of New York. '