More exact, more detailed5, were the notices brought to me from Miane by the refugee. His cousin in the Austrian headquarters seemed to be a crafty6, intelligent person. He was in touch with the general situation, and beside sending me a great many postcards, he referred to me some important details. From many symptoms he deduced that the offensive was imminent8. All the transportation of ammunition9 had by now been completed and it was probable that the preliminary orders for the relief of the troops in the trenches10 by troops of 237 assault had been issued. One of the most significant indications was that all the shock troops, especially the Hungarians who form the staunchest troops in the army of the enemy, had received the order to be in readiness and several divisions had already left their old position so as to be nearer the front. There was also much talk of change of headquarters which, for the day on which the action was to open, must be in a far more advanced zone. The troops had recently enjoyed special treatment. The ration11, which usually was very scanty12 and not sufficient to appease13 the hunger of a robust14 man, had been gradually increased in the past days, and there were daily distributions of wine, coffee, liquors and other comforts. The enemy command was attempting by every means to raise the morale15 of its soldiers. The officers delivered lectures before the troops in which they affirmed that from news received from the other side it was certain that the morale of the Italians was still 238 very low and that a single heavy blow would be sufficient to make the entire defensive16 system crumble17, thus compelling the Italians to make a precipitate18 and disorderly flight. The victorious19 army would, therefore, be able to advance without great sacrifices, and would be able to take advantage of all the wonderful riches which were on the further side, and among these the army was bidden not to overlook the gem20 of the Adriatic, Venice. Even the Hungarian chaplains helped in this propaganda. They endeavored to convince the troops that this was to be the last effort required of them; an effort which would ensure a victorious peace. Bulletins were continuously distributed in which the German victories on the French front were praised to such an extent that the soldiers daily expected to hear that the Germans had arrived, at least, in Paris.
My informer did not know exactly at what point the offensive was to be struck, 239 but from several conversations he had overheard and from the general trend of events he did not think he erred7 in saying that the greatest effort would not be made from the side of the mountain, but that the bulk of the Austrian army was already concentrated between the bridge of the Priula and the Vidor bridge. This concentration had as its objective the crushing in of the Montello. The foregoing was what he wrote in his brief report, written in such a clear, fine handwriting as denoted an educated person of some culture. He could not be far from the truth because, from all the information I had at hand, it seemed as if the Austrians’ plan of attack was in truth against the objective he had outlined. But this information could not suffice. It was a matter of absolute necessity that I set eyes, in person, on Armando Brunora, the friend of the refugee; this Brunora who resided in the headquarters at Vittorio and who seemed to know many important secrets. He had not 240 been able to move as yet because it had been raining heavily, and the road which separated us from Vittorio was rather long, considering the scanty means of transportation available.
During a brief interval21 when the rain ceased, we went to look for the field near which we had arranged to place our signals. It was easy to distinguish it at once. The only difficulty about it now was that it did not belong to the uncles of my soldier but belonged to certain peasants who lived in a little group of houses near the square. Obviously we could not place our signals there until we had communicated with the owner. I therefore asked the refugee to summon the owner for me.
These little difficulties were a nuisance because in my mind I had planned never to venture forth22 from the house of my soldier’s relatives. Certainly not at first did I purpose to do so, but events so turned out that I saw myself compelled to enlarge the 241 number of persons to whom we had to communicate our secret. However, I easily overcame even this test, because an overpowering fatality23 now took possession of me, and I cared very little for my life, did I but succeed in obtaining the information I had so much at heart. The owner of the land had received our request most kindly24 and was greatly interested in what we told him. He consented to my project with good grace and furthermore said that, not at once, but within a few days, his two sisters when they returned from visiting distant relatives would be of great help to us because they would be able to place the sheets on the ground and so avoid the necessity of our showing ourselves. This was really a very practical idea because after all, two men placing sheets on the ground might arouse the suspicion of the guards, whereas women such as are wont25 to wash and lay the laundry on the ground, are not an out-of-the-way sight.
242 The weather continued to be unfavorable, and if on the one hand I grieved because it interfered26 with our progress in getting into communication, on the other hand I was glad we knew how to take advantage of the only time in which it was possible to accomplish the undertaking27. Then, too, the offensive surely could not begin, while it rained, because despite the fact that the Austrians do not usually attach much importance to the climatic conditions, yet this time they had a river in front of them and they must realize with a degree of apprehension28 that if their first attempt should not succeed in driving back our resistance, they might find themselves in the critical condition of having many troops on the other side with a high river at their backs. This might indeed prove rather inconvenient29, because the Piave at times becomes a rushing torrent30 such as hinders the building of any bridges or the sending over of any reinforcements of food or ammunition.
243 For several days we had not seen a ray of sun even for a second. The rain continued to fall unceasingly, so that the wood had become a veritable bog31. We hardly dared thrust our heads out of our little stable for fear of a drenching32. During these days the refugee brought me for the first time a copy of the Gazetta del Veneto, a filthy33 newspaper published at Udine by a renegade Italian in the pay of Austria. It was really impressive to read those pages in which were printed sentiments and opinions which, written in German, would not astonish me in the least, but which disgusted me profoundly when written in our beautiful language. They invented a multitude of things about the internal situation in Italy. According to them a revolution was about to break out because of the lack of food, a lack become more severe owing to the intensive submarine warfare34. “Our enemies,” the newspaper said, “have little reason to rejoice because they hoped to see 244 many Americans arrive on their front, in the springtime, but instead thanks to the indefatigable35 work of our submarines, these reinforcements cannot come and all the provisions sent from the other side of the ocean are regularly lost at sea.”
The days seemed interminable, especially because we could not venture out from our lowly hut. We did not even dare return to the house of the Toneli because we feared to upset them and that our presence might annoy them. We trusted to the little woman who lost her son to find us eggs, and at once she began to go about offering money for them, but found it difficult because most of the peasants bring the little they produce to the board of the Austrian officers at Vittorio so as to get some flour in exchange.
On awakening36 on the morning of June 7th we had a pleasant surprise. We found the sun shining. The trees, on which the dewdrops still trembled, swayed their 245 branches in the slight wind from across the mountain. The mountains seemed clear and clean-cut in the atmosphere about them. As the sun peeped over the top of the Cansiglio an anti-aircraft battery near Conegliano began firing and soon the aerial bombardment increased. All the sky was dotted with little pink and grayish clouds which blossomed and then dissolved in the clear upper air of the morning.... Even the battery at Vittorio had begun to fire. Soon after we observed in the pure sky above us the powerful wings of many of our “Caproni” in single file surrounded by many little chasing planes. The Caproni were directed towards an aviation camp near San Giacomo di Veglia, and meanwhile our chasing planes, gathered in a compact formation, were patrolling the air above the aerodrome of the enemy chasers in order to down any such impudent37 plane as dared to take rise and molest38 our bombing planes. A bombing machine with a chasing plane near it gives 246 the impression of a young girl about whom a young colt cuts a thousand capers39. All the people from the nearby houses came out into the open, unmindful of the shower of splinters which fell from the air. The women raised their arms towards the sky in supplication40, and pointing out the Italian wings to the children murmured, “They are ours, ours.” An old white-haired man raised his hat as the Italian flag passed above him.
But the Austrians, who cannot be accused of extreme temerity41, waited until all our planes had departed before rising in flight and as the last of our planes was passing over our lines on its return flight, the heavy enemy chasers arose, filling the sky with the coarse, deep roaring of their motors. Their method of flying is altogether different from ours. At times I enjoyed watching them in their movements; I found none of that agility42, none of that rapidity of movement which so distinguishes our chasers.
247 If the weather continued favorable we intended that afternoon at one o’clock to begin placing our sheets. I decided43 to set a signal on the field which would indicate that the offensive was imminent on the sector of the Montello. I examined my conscience and questioned whether this report was not premature44, but as time passed and I gathered more information from all sides, I became all the more convinced that the day could not be far distant when a rumbling45, rolling bombardment would indicate that the offensive had been begun. Even the weather, which was now fair, could but help hasten events.
The sister of Bottecchia had brought me the sheets which we were going to use as signals and cautiously we approached the place where they were to be extended. We traversed the little field once again so as to be certain we were not making a mistake, and by half-past twelve the sheet was in its proper place. We hid behind a tree on the 248 other side of the river to guard it and hinder any petty thief from stealing the precious material.
The sky which at first was very clear was streaked46 with those small light clouds which indicate that in the higher strata47 of the air a swift wind is blowing. Above the clouds a squadron of enemy planes, readily recognizable from the heavy noise of their motors, was completing a series of slow evolutions. These aeroplanes, whose task was certainly to obstruct48 the way for any of our planes, cruised continually between Vittorio and Pordenone. We glanced at the little watch given to Giovanni by his sister; it was 12.55. Suddenly the anti-aircraft battery near us began to fire. Yes, they had come. After a few seconds we glimpsed among the clouds a reconnoitring plane escorted by three chasing planes. And now what would happen; now that four of our aeroplanes would be against twelve of theirs? The adversary’s chance in attack was better than ours because 249 they were able to rise above the clouds and crash down unexpectedly on our planes which, flying beneath them, were certainly not aware of their presence. I distinctly heard the cadenced49, sibilant note of our motors and the deeper, heavier noise of the enemy motors. In a second the enemy had divided into two platoons of six planes each and each had selected its own objectives. Six had placed themselves against our reconnoitring plane and six were combating our three chasing planes. From among the clouds I heard the first faint reports of the machine-guns. The reconnoitring plane which appeared and disappeared among the white curls did not let itself be surprised; at times it made some daring evolutions and seemed as if it were going to nose-dive forever but retook its position and answered with brief rallies to the prolonged bursts of fire from the enemy guns. The Austrians in accord with their usual tactics tried to keep our plane in play with a concentration 250 of their forces so that finally one of them could attempt a fatal volley, but our pilots did not lose heart and with repeated tricks and wiles50 endeavored to escape the net. There!—five planes had surrounded it, and one all painted red, the swiftest, a “D 5,” tried to take position on its tail. I held my breath; the enemy plane was but a few yards from our plane and fired lengthy51 bursts at it but ours answered only with a brief volley. Suddenly the Austrian plane reeled and seemed to go out of control; for a time it spun52 downward like a dead leaf, and finally nose-dived in a great flame. I raised my arms in the air; I wished to express to that little speck53 with the tricolor all my joy, all my satisfaction. The other planes, who had viewed the havoc54, divided and turned towards their aerodromes. Our planes remained lords of the air. One flew several times over our signals as if the observer wished to take many negatives so as to make 251 certain that one good photograph would result. I looked into the eyes of Bottecchia who was near me, and I could not conceal55 the emotions I felt within me.
Within a few hours the staff would know of our signals; of what was about to happen; it would be certain that the offensive was imminent and that it was about to be loosed against the sector of the Montello. From that moment I was certain that events favored us. From the combat which took place above our heads I had received another proof of the superiority of our race and from this I derived pleasant predictions for the future. In the sky, as always, we were absolute masters, in this sky which they had tried to take from us but which remained ever ours. Soon, I was certain this mastery would extend even to the land. We would win, absolutely we would win! And how could a nation, which in enemy territory exhibits such feats56 as those I had just 252 witnessed, do otherwise than win? And furthermore, my modesty57 did not forbid me to forget that I too was a sample of the country which would win. Even on land Italy was not unworthily represented.
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1
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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2
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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3
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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sector
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| n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形 | |
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5
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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6
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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7
erred
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| 犯错误，做错事( err的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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9
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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10
trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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11
ration
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| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
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12
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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13
appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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14
robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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15
morale
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| n.道德准则，士气，斗志 | |
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16
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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17
crumble
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| vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁 | |
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18
precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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19
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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20
gem
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| n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel | |
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21
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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22
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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fatality
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| n.不幸，灾祸，天命 | |
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24
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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25
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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26
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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27
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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28
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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29
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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30
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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31
bog
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| n.沼泽；室...陷入泥淖 | |
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32
drenching
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| n.湿透v.使湿透( drench的现在分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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33
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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34
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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35
indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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36
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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37
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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38
molest
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| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
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39
capers
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| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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40
supplication
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| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
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41
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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42
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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43
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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44
premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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45
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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46
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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47
strata
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| n.地层（复数）；社会阶层 | |
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48
obstruct
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| v.阻隔，阻塞(道路、通道等)；n.阻碍物，障碍物 | |
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49
cadenced
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| adj.音调整齐的，有节奏的 | |
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50
wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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51
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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52
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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53
speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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54
havoc
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| n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱 | |
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55
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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56
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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57
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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