said； 〃in the old days the Austrians were always whipped in the quadrilateral around Verona。 They let them e down onto the plain and whipped them there。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Gino。 〃But those were Frenchmen and you can work out military problems clearly when you are fighting in somebody else's country。〃
〃Yes；〃 I agreed； 〃when it is your own country you cannot use it so scientifically。〃
〃The Russians did； to trap Napoleon。〃
〃Yes； but they had plenty of country。 If you tried to retreat to trap Napoleon in Italy you would find yourself in Brindisi。〃
〃A terrible place；〃 said Gino。 〃Have you ever been there？〃
〃Not to stay。〃
〃I am a patriot；〃 Gino said。 〃But I cannot love Brindisi or Taranto。〃
〃Do you love the Bainsizza？〃 I asked。
〃The soil is sacred；〃 he said。 〃But I wish it grew more potatoes。 You know when we came here we found fields of potatoes the Austrians had planted。〃
〃Has the food really been short？〃
〃I myself have never had enough to eat but I am a big eater and I have not starved。 The mess is average。 The regiments in the line get pretty good food but those in support don't get so much。 Something is wrong somewhere。 There should be plenty of food。〃
〃The dogfish are selling it somewhere else。〃
〃Yes； they give the battalions in the front line as much as they can but the ones in back are very short。 They have eaten all the Austrians' potatoes and chestnuts from the woods。 They ought to feed them better。 We are big eaters。 I am sure there is plenty of food。 It is very bad for the soldiers to be short of food。 Have you ever noticed the difference it makes in the way you think？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。 〃It can't win a war but it can lose one。〃
〃We won't talk about losing。 There is en