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-97- Sfollati.' The last version our Sfollati were inclined to believe and they showed relief when the individual was whisked away. Last night the battle seemed nearer and in the direction of Poggibonsi. To the right and to the left of us there was a continuous whizzing of shells. The question is whether the battle will move northward on both sides,leaving Florence as an open city intact,or whether Florence is to be drawn into the battle zone. I suppose we shall be able to judge of this only when shells burst in our garden. Shall we then have to move on? And where to? July 23rd. The battle is still raging especially to the south and east of Florence within two and a half kilometres. People carrying househo [[strikethrough]] u [[/strikethough]] ld goods are hurrying down from Pian dei Giullari where the German cannons are being set up. Last night the booming was terrific and there is [[strikethrough]] all [[/strikethrough]] every reason to believe that it will become worse. We are well within the precincts of Florence, which is supposed to be a 'citta aperta', but in the struggle to come will mere demarcation lines be respected? yet we hesitate to go to rooms already reserved at the Excelsior Hotel, for that would mean that at the very moment the Allied troops enter Florence we should find ourselves in the very centre of whatever form this entry may take: jubilant perhaps; riotous, most likely. Besides if we were unable to move or to return to