Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-06-10
ITALY'S ALPINE SOLDIERS.
Troops Vancouver Above the Clouds
Preparations for Mountain Warfare.


(E. a. Powell in the New York Times)
Cross over into Italy by any Of the
Alpine passes between the months Of
May and October and It will be strange
indeed II you do not catch sight OF
long ribbon OF soldiers IN biue-gray uni
forms with eagles feathers stuck rak-
.shly In the bands 81 their round. felt
hats, their spiral column. reaching high
up the mountain-side. These .re the
Cacc!atorl Al7ini. the the guardians Of
the gates OF Itsly. With their lungs Of
leather, muscles Of steel. ana nerves Il
iron, he must be n hardy man. and In
the best Of training. who would follow
TIE movements OF these remarkable
troops In their nlanoevuers above the
clouds. But even II his legs will stand
the tatiguinE climbs over rocks and
cross glaciers, and his head IL proof
against the giddiness OF paths where
misstep means a fall o, a thousand
fr'hons sheer. he must yet obtain spe-
cial 'pcrme.so'' from the min ster o.,
war. for the maneuvers of the Alpine
Il oops. forming, they do. the first
line OF Italian defence. are kept exceed
insly secret and an opportunity to view
the,r operations Mt close range is often
difficult TO obtain
The aggregate strength Of the noun
toin. or Alpine infantry is represented
by soma 800 officers and 40 men. This
co--ps, recruited solely from the popula-
tion OF the Italian Alps. has special
capabilities for mountain warfare,
Though armed like infantry. It's uniform
AND equipment are adapted to the mode
oc living and maneuvering in elevated
| and mountainous regions sometimes TO- =
40 feet above the level OF the sea. At
| tached TO each company OF Alpni Is a
| battery OF mounted artillery. the dis
mcuntable guns being carried by eight
| pack mules. together with the gun car
images and ammunition. The ingenuity
Of the weapons and appliances carried
| ny these mountain soldiery ID astonsh-
| ing. Not only Is every quick airing gun
capable Of being unscrewed and taken TO
r!sces. but the heavier artillery is pro-
| vidcd with an Ingenious system Of
cables pulleys and levers whereby even
neln guns Of considerable size may be
hauled up wnll-lke 9rec'piccs into posi-
ton which any ordinary military officer
would consider unattanable. even for ac-
tive and unincumbered Infantry
| Each man. in addition to the rife
which he carries slung across his back,
Is provided with a .teel-shod alpenstock
20 assist him In climbing, and he also
| carries an Alpine ice AK with which to
cut steps In the Ice Of the glaciers
which he must cross. They are also
Thoroughly equipped with cold-resistins
and rain-proof garments. FOR at the
treat altitude in which they maneuver
frequently far above the cloud line,
whirling snowstorn1s come down In July
and August. accompanied by drenchng
| -ain and hail. and almost every hour the
| winds blow dense masses Of cloud down
upon the peaks and into the valleys. and
ns this vapor Is both damp and penetrate
| Ing. the men have to be warmly clad.
| For lower climbs, say up to 5000 feet,
| Commissariat mules accompany the coll
rmn. carrying the great-coats, provis-
ions and extra ammunition and the tents
OF balloon silk which the officers some
times use but in higher ascents such
incumberancos must he left behind, 1t
seeming impossible indeed, for any liv-
irE creature to crawl up the steep pre-
c,pices which these troops negotiate sue
cssrfully. taking with them their rifles,
rations, signaling apparatus and even
then mountain artillery. The officers of
the Alpini speak the three languages,
italian. French, German. Of the from
ter provinces, and have 1t IL needless
to say. very intimate knowledge OF
the mountains
IT In frequently necessary. however,
Wien crossing glaciers which may be
tteply crevassed. for them 10 engage a
local guide And even then 1t frequently
happens that drifting snow may effectu'
ally conceal a dangerous abyss, and many
valuable mounted guns. with their mer
ard mules. have been lost through such