Udine was also bearing out its evil reputation of having the most changeable weather of any place in Italy. Three fine days and a thunderstorm became a bit monotonous, however much you might get used to it.
In the early days of August there was every indication that the period of quiescence was coming to an end, and the communiqués began to refer persistently to increasing activity in the Isonzo sector, and the Trentino was barely mentioned.
The atmosphere for some days past had been charged with rumours that big events were impending, but one got so used to rumours here that no undue importance was attached to the latest. You could only hope that there was some truth in it, as one was beginning to get heartily sick of doing nothing.
Still it was a significant fact that the King and General Cadorna had been frequently seen in this sector during the preceding week and that important movements of troops and materiel were taking place daily.
It was not, however, till the 4th August that there were any real indications that rumour for once was true.
In his communiqué of that date the Generalissimo concluded with a line which, read in the light of subsequent events, was pregnant with historic interest: “On the Isonzo, commencement of very active fire with heavy shells.”
The communiqué of the following day gave the welcome intelligence that there had been a vigorous attack in the Monfalcone sector, and that 145 prisoners, amongst whom were four officers, had been taken.
After this there appeared no doubt that something really important was afoot, and this was confirmed by news that came in during the day that a general attack by the Italians all along this Front was rapidly developing.
There was no hesitation about leaving Udine now, and the correspondents prepared to start at once. I arranged for a seat in the car of Gino Piva, of the Resto del Carlino, of Bologna, and with us was Roberto Cantalupo, of the Corriere d’Italia, of Rome.
Meanwhile one could hear the thunder of the guns in Udine, and from the terrace of the castle the smoke of the bursting shells on the hills was quite distinctly visible, although forty miles away, and during the night the flashes from the guns looked like distant lightning.