Italy at War and the Allies in the West

Оглавление

E. Alexander Powell. Italy at War and the Allies in the West

Italy at War and the Allies in the West

Table of Contents

ILLUSTRATIONS

ITALY AT WAR

IToC

THE WAY TO THE WAR

IIToC

WHY ITALY WENT TO WAR

IIIToC

FIGHTING ON THE ROOF OF EUROPE

FOOTNOTES:

IVToC

THE ROAD TO TRIESTE

VToC

WITH THE RUSSIANS IN CHAMPAGNE

VIToC

"THEY SHALL NOT PASS!"

FOOTNOTES:

VIIToC

"THAT CONTEMPTIBLE LITTLE ARMY"

VIIIToC

WITH THE BELGIANS ON THE YSER

FOOTNOTES:

Отрывок из книги

E. Alexander Powell

Published by Good Press, 2019

.....

No, they're not very enthusiastic over the war in Florence. But you can't blame them, can you?

In none of the great cities known and loved by Americans has the war wrought such startling changes as in Venice. Because it is a naval base of the first importance, because it is almost within sight of the Austrian coast, and therefore within easy striking distance of Trieste, Fiume, and Pola, and because throughout Venetia Austrian spies abound, Venice is a closed city. It reminded me of a beautiful playhouse which had been closed for an indefinite period: the fire-curtain lowered, the linen covers drawn over the seats, the carpets rolled up, the scenery stored away, the great stage empty and desolate. Gone are the lights, the music, the merriment which made Venice one of the happiest and most care free of cities. Because of the frequent air raids—Venice has been attacked from the sky nearly a hundred times since the war began—the city is put to bed promptly at nightfall. To show a light from a door or window after dark is to invite a domiciliary visit from the police and, quite possibly, arrest on the charge of attempting to communicate with the enemy. The illumination of the streets is confined to small candle-power lights in blue or purple bulbs, the weakened rays being visible for only a short distance. To stroll at night in the darkened streets is to risk falling into a canal, while the use of an electric torch would almost certainly result in arrest as a spy. The ghastly effect produced by the purple lights, the utter blackness of the canals, the deathly silence, broken only by the sound of water lapping the walls of the empty palazzos, combine to give the city a peculiarly weird and sepulchral appearance.

.....