He had been singing the praises of his country. "La Nave"
symbolizes the glory of Venice. He had become more wholesome. War was
making him not only a man but a hero.
Of course D'Annunzio was not the only great literary man who had left
the study for the battle-field. AEschylus fought at Marathon and
Salamis; Ariosto put down a rebellion for his prince between composition
of cantos of Orlando Furioso; Sir Philip Sydney was scholar, poet and
soldier, and many a soldier when his wars were over has turned to the
labors of the pen. Yet it is not without surprise that one sees
D'Annunzio join this distinguished company, and one's admiration grows
as it becomes plain that he was not a mere poseur. He was a poet, but he
was a soldier too. Not every great poet could drive an airplane to
Vienna.
CHAPTER XLVI
BULGARIA DESERTS GERMANY
During the year 1916 there was little movement in the Balkans. The
Allies had settled down at Saloniki and intrenched themselves so
strongly that their positions were practically impregnable. These
intrenchments were on slopes facing north, heavily wired and with seven
miles of swamp before them, over which an attacking army would have to
pass. It was obviously inadvisable to withdraw entirely the armies at
Saloniki. So long as they were there it was possible at any time to make
an attack on Bulgaria in case Russia or Roumania should need such
assistance.
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