第10部分(第5/7 頁)

e　anxious　to　ship　me　to　Milan　where　there　were　better　X…ray　facilities　and　where；　after　the　operation；　I　could　take　mechano…therapy。　I　wanted　to　go　to　Milan　too。　They　wanted　to　get　us　all　out　and　back　as　far　as　possible　because　all　the　beds　were　needed　for　the　offensive；　when　it　should　start。

The　night　before　I　left　the　field　hospital　Rinaldi　came　in　to　see　me　with　the　major　from　our　mess。　They　said　that　I　would　go　to　an　American　hospital　in　Milan　that　had　just　been　installed。　Some　American　ambulance　units　were　to　be　sent　down　and　this　hospital　would　look　after　them　and　any　other　Americans　on　service　in　Italy。　There　were　many　in　the　Red　Cross。　The　States　had　declared　war　on　Germany　but　not　on　Austria。

The　Italians　were　sure　America　would　declare　war　on　Austria　too　and　they　were　very　excited　about　any　Americans　ing　down；　even　the　Red　Cross。　They　asked　me　if　I　thought　President　Wilson　would　declare　war　on　Austria　and　I　said　it　was　only　a　matter　of　days。　I　did　not　know　what　we　had　against　Austria　but　it　seemed　logical　that　they　should　declare　war　on　her　if　they　did　on　Germany。　They　asked　me　if　we　would　declare　war　on　Turkey。　I　said　that　was　doubtful。　Turkey；　I　said；　was　our　national　bird　but　the　joke　translated　so　badly　and　they　were　so　puzzled　and　suspicious　that　I　said　yes；　we　would　probably　declare　war　on　Turkey。　And　on　Bulgaria？　We　had　drunk　several　glasses　of　brandy　and　I　said　yes　by　God　on　Bulgaria　too　and　on　Japan。　But；　they　said；　Japan　is　an　ally　of　England。　You　can't　trust　the　bloody　English。　The　Japanese　want　Hawaii；　I　said。　Where　is　Hawaii？　It　is　in　the　Pacific　Ocean。　Why　do　the　Japanese　want　it？　They　don't　really　want　it；　I　said。　That　is　all　talk。　The　Japanese　are　a　wonderful　little　people　fond　of　dancing　and　light　wines。　Like　the　French；　said　the