Six months on the Italian frontPrice, Julius M. (Julius Mendes)
History
Six months on the Italian front
Price, Julius M. (Julius Mendes)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Italo-Austrian; World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
A better starting point than Brescia for an extended tour of the
whole of the Front would have been difficult to find, as it commands
comparatively easy access to the principal positions in this sector.
With a reliable car and no “speed limit” the radius you could cover
in a day was remarkable as we soon discovered.
It may possibly be of interest at this juncture to give a rough
sketch of the “arrangements” that we found had been made for us
by the Headquarters Staff. A printed itinerary was given to each
correspondent, from which he could gather at a glance the programme,
subject only to occasional modifications as events might warrant, for
every day of the tour.
The first impression, of course, was that we were to be on a sort of
“personally conducted tour,” and no little disappointment ensued, but
it was soon found that, although you had to adhere to it in its main
points, there was really not any irksome restriction, as will be seen.
The scheme briefly was that the whole party should assemble at
certain dates in the towns where Press Censorship Headquarters
were established, and then officers were detailed to accompany the
different parties to the positions along the Front nearest to these
centres in order to explain the nature of the operations going on,
and to give any other information required.
_Salvo condotti_, _i.e._, military passes, were issued to everyone;
these passes were for use on the road and in the positions, and had
to be renewed at each censorship, otherwise they were valueless.
Although therefore it was obligatory to present yourself at all these
_points de repère_ at certain dates, you could choose your own road
to get to them and halt where you pleased _en route_.
The “off-days,” when you were not officially visiting the positions,
were to give you the opportunity of writing your articles and
submitting them to the Censor, as obviously nothing could be posted
without the official _visé_, though, of course, this did not prevent
you from getting off as soon as you were through with him and had
received your fresh permit and making for the next stopping place.
The latitude the arrangement gave to each car was demonstrated at
once. We were booked to remain in Brescia for eight days, during
which period there were to be no “official” excursions anywhere. Our
passes were handed us, and we were free to go where we pleased so
long as we turned up on time at Verona, the next stopping place.
The reason for this pleasing relaxation at the very commencement of
the tour did not transpire; perhaps it was an oversight when the
programme was drawn up; anyhow, my companions suggested our taking
advantage of it and getting away from Brescia as soon as possible and
making for the nearest positions. So we started off the next morning
at the matutinal hour of 5 o’clock.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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