The Italian airplanes themselves were
engineering triumphs. The inventive genius so notable in these days in
Italy found expression in their development. Some of their machines were
the biggest made during the whole war, and the long journeys made by
such machines deserve special mention. The most interesting feat of this
kind was performed on August 9th by the famous poet, Captain Gabrielle
D'Annunzio. Accompanied by eight Italian machines, he flew to the city
of Vienna, a total distance of 620 miles, and dropped copies of an
Allied manifesto over the city. They crossed the Alps in a great wind
storm at a height of ten thousand feet, and all but one returned safely.
The manifesto, which was written by D'Annunzio reads as follows:
People of Vienna, you are fated to know the Italians. We are flying over
Vienna and could drop tons of bombs. On the contrary we leave a
salutation and the flag with its colors of liberty. We Italians do not
make war on children, the aged and women. We make war on your
government, which is the enemy of the liberty of nations,--on your
blind, wanton, cruel government, which gives you neither peace nor
bread, and nurtures you on hatred and delusions. People of Vienna, you
have the reputation of being intelligent, why then do you wear the
Prussian uniform? Now you see the entire world is against you, do you
wish to continue the war? Keep on, then, but it will be your suicide.
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