BATTISTI, Cesare, Italian author and patriot: b. Trent, 4 Feb. 1875; d. 13 July 1916. After studying law at Vienna and Gratz, he devoted himself to geographical science at Florence, where he received the Litt.D. degree in 1897. His topographical, geological and lit erary researches concerned always the Tren tino, that part of *Italia irredentap under Austrian rule. His numerous works on these subjects are re-garded as standard authorities. An ardent democrat, he fiercely defended the Italian national cause in the Trentino. He had fought in the ranks of the Liberals until Socialism made its appearance in that part, when he embraced the new creed and be-came its leading exponent As editor of the Social .ist daily paper 11 Popolo, and as Socialist dep uty for Trent in the Austrian Parliament, he conducted the political campaign in favor of autonomy for the Trentino and the establish ment of an Italian university in Austria. On various occasions his activities brought him into conflict with the Austrian authorities and also several terms of imprisonment. On the outbreak of the Europe-an War Battisti re turned to Italy and advocated Italian interven tion against Austria. This desire being ful filled in May 1915, he entered the Italian army as a private soldier and in due course rose to the rank of captain. During an attack on the Pasubio sector in the Vallarsa on 10 July 1916, in which Battisti commanded a company of the Vicenza Battalion, he was severely wounded and left on the battlefield, where he was found by the Austrians. On 13 July the Italian pa
pers announced that he had been killed in bat tle; the following day a report from Innsbriick stated that he was a prisoner in the hands of the Austrians and would be tried by court-mar tial for high treason. Two days later it was announced that he had been sentenced to death and executed on 13 July. A different complexion was given to the story by Signor Arca, an Italian deputy, returned from the front on 17 July, He stated that Battisti, being unable to regain the Italian lines after receiving his wounds, had committed suicide rather than fall into the hands of his enemies. It was then assturied that the Austrians had held a mock trial on the body and afterward hanged it. Public indignation rose high in Italy; on 20 July a procession marched to the Capitol in Rome and adopted a resolution denouncing the execution of Battisti and demanding declara tion of war against Germany. A week later an English newspaper correspondent affirmed that Battisti had been sent to Trent and tried and hanged within 40 hours, athough in a dy ing condition." A year and five months later on 16 Dec. 1917, the New York Times pub: lished a reproduction of a photograph depicting Battisti walking unaided to his execution under military escort. Among his best known works are 'II Trentino, saggio di geografia, fisica e d'antropogeografia); (Termini geografici rac colti nel Trentino.)