Chapter IX

From Brescia to Verona—Absence of military movement in rural
districts—Verona—No time for sightseeing—The axis of the
Trentino—Roveretto, the focus of operations—Fort Pozzachio—A
“dummy fortress”—Wasted labour—Interesting incident—Excursion to
Ala—Lunch to the correspondents—Ingenious ferry-boat on River
Adige—The Valley of the Adige—Wonderful panorama—“No sketching
allowed”—Curious finish of incident—Austrian positions—Desperate
fighting—From Verona to Vicenza—The positions of Fiera di
Primiero—Capture of Monte Marmolada—The Dolomites—Their weird
fascination—A striking incident—The attempted suicide—The Col di
Lana—Up the mountains on mules—Sturdy _Alpini_ Method of getting
guns and supplies to these great heights—The observation post and
telephone cabin on summit—The Colonel of Artillery—What it would
have cost to capture the Col di Lana then—The Colonel has an
idea—The idea put into execution—The development of the idea—Effect
on the Col di Lana—An object lesson—The Colonel gets into hot
water—The return down the mountain—Caprili—Under fire—We make for
shelter—The village muck-heap—Unpleasant position—A fine example of
coolness—The wounded mule—An impromptu dressing 97