ITALY’S KING AT THE FRONT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 290, 20 September 1915, Page 3

ITALY’S KING AT THE FRONT.

King Emmanuel of Italy has for some time post been with his troops at the front, and he has won all hearts by his simplicity and patriotism. Indeed, the Monarchy in Italy was never so popular as now. An Italian paper, the Corriere d Italia, publishes some very interesting details about the movements of the King, who, leading the life of a simple officer, is going about the trenches seeing to the men’s comforts and inspiring them with his high courage and cheerful demeanour. His Majesty is in the Isonzo line. He has just dined with some Bersaglieri, and the guns all round him are belching out the messages of destruction. Suddenly, the order arrives for a bayonet attack, and the soldiers are proud to act under the orders of their beloved Monarch. A corporal comes up from way down the line with a message and shouts; ‘/I hear the King is somewhere near. Where is he?” “Here lie is. my friend,” smiles the King. The corpora! ’s face becomes crimson. His comrades grin. The bugles sound. “Forward!” cries the King. The battalion moves up. The men arc intoxicated with fierce ardour, and the Bersaglieri rush forward, shouting -.caps of song and waving their rifles The Austlan trenches are carried in one nsh, an dthc defenders killed to a man Standing on a little knoll, Victor Emmanuel' watches every incident, a proud smile on his glowing features. The next scone is in a field hospital. The King enters at . one end, and the sick and wounded try to get up and ccme towards him, but he calls to them: “Keep in your places. I am coming to each in turn.” Victor Emmanuel approaches a bed where a convaleccut man is writing a letter. “You are writing to your mother?” “To my father, Your Majesty.”“Give mo the letter.” He opens it. roads, and embraces the soldier. “I will see to the delivering of it”; and theq “Are there any more letters?” Ten, twenty, thirty epistles are hastily produced. Every man gives his letter into the King’s own hand. Placing them all in a large envelope, he addressed the men. “I have got here a letter just written to my daughter, Yolanda. We will put in in alo ■? with yours, so that they may get to

their destination quicker.”

I A message from the special correspondent of the C.'xetta del Popolo, Tuv?n, states that in a small village recently taken from the Austrians the King of Italy cillmbed into the church , belfry to watch the positions of the combatants.

The belfry was exposed to the fire of the enemy’s cannon, and the attention of the King was politely drawn to the fact‘that the spot where he stood was too dangerous.

King Victor Emmanuel replied. “ The House of Savoy likes a good front seat.”