State College News 1939-10-20

His first journey to Italy was a pleasant one. Genoa, Pisa of the famed Leaning Tower, Naples, Capri, Pompeii and Rome were highspots of his Italian visit. During his three day's stay in Rome, he viewed an outdoor performance of "Aida", in the ruins of the Caracalla Baths, which was attended by 20,000 people. The Conte de Bavoia, Italian liner, was leaving Naples during his visit; three days later, as he returned to France, he again saw the ship, which had been called back to Italian waters by Mussolini. When the crisis came, Allard was in Florence, Italy, where very little about the crisis was known. The American consul told all Americans to leave as quickly as possible, since no one knew when Italy might join the Germans in the hostilities. From Florence he proceeded to Nice, to Grenoble and back to Paris, where he was located when the war was declared. The wartime Paris was very calm and quiet. Public notices to the civilian population gave information about procedure in case of an air raid; all news was censored. All skylights and headlights were painted blue; all lights were a dim blue; traffic signals were removed;