in France to become one blurred series of gigantic actions.  So too counter-battery work on a great scale was not practised on either side out here, partly for reasons of ammunition supply, and partly for technical reasons connected with the nature of the ground.  For in a good caverna one was perfectly safe, though outside high explosive produced not only its own natural effect, but also a shower of pieces of rock, thus combining the unpleasant characteristics of high explosive and shrapnel.  One of our gunners had his ribs broken by a blow from a large piece of rock, though standing three hundred yards away from where the shell burst.  But often after a heavy bombardment it was found that the enemy had been sitting quietly in caverne, ready to emerge with his machine guns when the attacking Infantry advanced.  Aeroplanes also were less numerous than in France.  And, when I arrived, gas was not much employed on either side.

In the second place, I was deeply impressed with the natural strength of the Austrians’ positions.  Almost everywhere they held high ground.  On no other Front in this war have stronger positions been carried by assault than San Michele, Sabotino, Cucco, Vodice, Monte Nero, and, in the end, Monte Santo.  No one who has not seen with his own eyes the heights which Italian Infantry have conquered, backed by no great Artillery support, can realise the astounding things which the Italians have performed.  The Italian Infantry have died in masses, with high hearts and in the exaltation of delirium, crumpled, rent and agonised, achieving the impossible.

And in the third place I would say something of the work of their Engineers.  Italian Engineers are famous all the world over, but they have done nothing more magnificent than their swift building of innumerable roads, broad and well-laid and with marvellously easy gradients, both in these inhospitable and undeveloped border lands beside the Isonzo, and along the whole mountain Front.  They have made possible troop movements and a regular system of supply under the most difficult conditions.  It is a work worthy of the descendants of the old Romans, who by their road building laid the foundations of civilisation throughout Western Europe.  And only second to their road making, I would place the work of the Italian Engineers in blasting caverne and gun positions and trenches in the rock, an invaluable and unending labour.

We British Gunners spent our first Italian summer in khaki drill tunics and shorts[1] and Australian “smasher hats.”  When these hats were first issued, one Battery Commander declared them to be “unsoldierly” in appearance and asked for permission to return them to the Ordnance.  But this was not allowed.  The men stood the heat well, though at the beginning, before they had got accustomed to the change of climate, there was some dysentery.  I myself, a few days after my arrival and before I had a smasher hat, had a touch of the sun and lay about all day cursing the flies.  But next day I was all right again.