The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-11-02
SKI MOUNTED SOLDIERS
Manoeuvers of Troops of Nor
way and Sweden.
MAKING CAMP IN SNOW.
How the Men Are Clothed and Equip.
ped-spesd of Soldiers on the
Msreh-Ski Driving for Scouts
Ambulance elcds--How Tents
Are Heated.

In defence, as in other matters, a
nation usually adapts itself to climatic
| and other natural conditions imposed
upon It, taking advantage of these
wherever possible and training it's SOL
! diers accordingly For example, the
troops of Holland go through intricate
manoeuvers on skates; the French,
Italian and Swiss armies maintain bat
talions of Alpine infantry who are both
crack shots and expert mountaineers,
provided with ropes, ice axes, and al
penstocks; and the armies of Norway
and Sweden, says the American Re-
| view of Reviews, have for ages been
supplied with ski during the long
Scandinavian winter.
AS far back as the days OF Mangus
the Good, in the middle of the eleventh
century, we hear how the Duke Of Fin
mark, with his archers on ski, attacked
and utterly defeated King Regner at
his winter quarters In Bjarmeland-
a defeat which astounded the northern
nations, who could not conceive how
snow sliding rabble of bowmen could
possibly vanquish trained soldiers who
of imperial Rome.
The ski of Norway and Sweden are
long slabs of wood, ranging, according
to fancy or requirements, from six to
ten feet in length and from two to
four and half inches In breadth. All
are curved upward at the toe and to
lesser extent at the heel. They are at
tached to the foot, generally few
inches behind the center, with toe
strap and some thongs.
Norway and Sweden being pre-emi-
nently lands Of the SHOWS, 1t was but
natural that the military authorities
should turn their troops into skiers.
For nearly two centuries the modern
armies Of Norway and Sweden, as dis
tinguished from medieval forces have
maintained permanent regiments of
troops mounted upon ski and station
ed for service in regions where their
presence would be most useful.
The wonderful dexterity, the swift
marches and the holding of snowy po-
sitions thought to be impossible so
impressed the Powers Of Europe in
those days that first Germany and
then in turn Austria, Italy and France
likewise mounted some of their Alpine
troops on ski.
When mustered for the ski manoeu-
vers the men appear in heavy march,
ing order, but, one is surprised to see,
without overcoats, an Iceland shirt
a very thick knitted woven garment
being provided instead. 1t is quite as
warm as great coat and does not i'm
pede the mems movements.
Their underclothing is of great
thickness, and they wear special ski
socks, which keep their feet very
warm. When on the march halt and
rest of from ten to fifteen minutes is
allowed each hour; for, as the men
are supposed to make good speed even
over loose and heavy snow, the march
is found most arduous.
On arrival at their destination the
men are told off to cut poles, gather
fir branches, scoop away the snow
from the proposed site of the tents,
and, finally, erect their temporary
dwellings. The space being marked out
by non-commissioned officer, the
snow is shoveled away to a certain
depth and the cavity filed in with
kind of flooring or carpet of spruce
branches. Four long poles, fastened
together at a fixed height, are then
raised slantwise from each corner and
these, with the exception of space at
the top, are completely covered with
sheets of canvas laced together.
Inside the tent. suspended by wires
from each pole, is slung a wire grating
! Is inches above the ground, and on
this the f1rewood is placed, so that ere
long merry blaze is started, and the
swinging fire, fed with air from every
direction, soon makes the tent interior
warm and cozy, even though it may
be zero weather outside.
The speed attained by the men on
ski has often been exaggerated, no
| doubt owing to the rapidity with
which a snow slope can be descended.
When the troops are engaged in cross
country manoeuvers 1t Is doubtful
whether they will do more than fve
miles an hour.
Much difficulty is experienced in
Norway and Sweden in the matter of
transport and the carrying of field
guns and wheeled vehicles across snow
clad ground.
At present field artillery is trans
ported bodily ON sleds, so as to follow,
the army on ski; and the doctors, with
their assistants. accompany the regi-
ments with FIRST aid" necessaries, and
ambulance sleds mounted on ski run
ners. 1t is curious sight during the
manoeuvers to see prostrate wound
Fed" men being hauled swiftly over the
frozen wastes to the nearest military
post or camp.