was a sad sight to see the
inhabitants of the towns fleeing down the roads from the advancing
enemy. Old and infirm people dragged themselves along. Parents lost
their children and children lost their parents in the crowd, and the
people took with them only the things which they could carry on their
persons. Florence was crowded with these unfortunates, who were lying
out at night in the squares and being tended by the citizens. There
was a great crowd at the station when we arrived, and a number of
Italian soldiers who spoke English gathered round our party and told
us that the war was over and that the soldiers would not fight any
more. Our men, however, were equal to the occasion, and told them (p. 224)
that _we_ were going to keep on fighting no matter what the Italians did,
and that there could be no peace until we had a decisive victory. The
whole city was astir, and many Italian regiments were quartered there.
I told the men before we sought for accommodation in the crowded town,
how important it was that we should show a determined face at this
time.

On the following afternoon, which was Sunday, I had a curious
experience. The Y.M.C.A. officer and I were going off to see the great
church of Santa Croce, which is the Italian Westminster Abbey, many
great Italians having been buried there. As we passed down the street
my friend went into a shop to buy some chocolates. While I was
waiting, I heard the stirring notes of the Marseillaise, and looking
round saw a band coming up the street followed by three Italian flags,
a number of soldiers, and a rabble of men, women and children. I
called to my companion to come out quickly and salute the Italian
colours. As they passed, we stood on the curb and saluted with strict
military precision. In fact we saluted so well that the delighted
members of the procession grabbed us by the hand and finally dragged
us into their midst, others clapping their hands and shouting "Viva
l'Inghilterra!" I was separated from my companion in the rabble and
called over to him and asked him what it was. He said, "I think it is
a Socialist demonstration." This rather dismayed me, but I turned to
one of the people by my side and asked him in French what the crowd
was. He told me it was the society for finishing the war, so I called
out to my friend, "It's all right Captain, it is the society for
finishing the war. I have wanted to join that society for some time."
I saw at once that the pro