[2][3] His father was originally from Borgo Sacco, near Rovereto, but worked as a teacher of classical philology in the high schools of Pisino and Capodistria (now Koper, Slovenia).

In November he ended up under investigation on charges of having favoured the desertion of an Italian comrade; he was acquitted but was dismissed as "politically suspect" at the time of discharge.

In the following years he was recalled three times, as usual, for military exercises and on one of these occasions he challenged an officer to a duel who had pronounced insults against Italy; only the intervention of the commander averted the clash.

In 1905, in the presence of some Treviso gymnasts visiting Rovereto, he recited an impassioned speech against the Austro-Hungarian empire and promised his commitment to the cause of the Italians in the unredeemed lands.

In the meantime he attended university studies, enrolling at the same time in Graz at the faculty of law and in Trieste at the "Revoltella" commercial school.

In November 1906 he went with his brother Ezio to Graz to join the Italian students who, asking for more government concessions in school, had blocked university activities.