The Keota news. (Keota, Weld County, Colo.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-24
italian Faces Death With a Smile
and q Joke.
Austrian oAsesrs Astonlshsd at the
Easy. Cheerful Ways Of italian
0oldIoro-comradooh d.
tvtoon ohsooeo and Men.
sv cAMlLLo ciANFAReA.

international News 6ervice.)
Udine. Italy.-A stay Of . few days
at any Of the sectors into which the
Italian front 10 divided will convince
the neutral observer Of several
things. Two Of these will sumce -
chiefly Characteristic Of the Italian
army. Viz: The good humor OF the
Italian troops even in the face Of the
most desperate straits: and the q.
cellent relations which exist at al
times between the officers and men.
shrapnel shells may explode at reg
ular intervals In and around the
Italian trenches. the roar Of the guns
may be deafening and awe-inspiring.
the rain Of bullets may raise Clouds
OF dust and send pebbles and chunks
of rocks hurting through the air
and yet the Italian soldier will IL
ways b ready to get all the run no
can out Of the situation.
In fact the clammy hand Of death
may be lurking in every corner and
yet his native smile will never desert
him, the unQuenchable IRE viii never
leave his eyes, no will always be
ready for . joke At the expense OF
the unsuspecting comrade Standing
rifle in hand, ut his side. alert at the
first signs Of real danger.
This good humor. the radiant smile
and the easy cheerful ways Of the
Italian Tommy" even after the most
bloodcurdling operations. IN which
hs may have risked his life . dozen
times. excites the wonder Of the Ans.
TRAN o0cefs.
Qnosof the latter IN Q letter TO his
mother which was found on the bat
tlooeld declared that he could not
make up his mind whether these
Italian soldiers were cynics or en-
thuSiaot6.
'Tor . whoae day." continued the
oMeer. who 10 . devoat Catholic. Il
vaa. prevented from training . gun
aGainst . certain spot, because I sav
through my deld glasses that IN an
munition wagon was guarded By .
priest armed with . long shining
cross"
.. When the Italians evacuated the
spot Il. was discovered that the
priest WAS nothing more nor less than
. black cassoct and . widebrimmed
hat. supported on two wooden sticks
and the cross formed out OF . mum.
Der Of tin meat cans.
s. Music and singing. however, form
the chief diversions Of the Italian
troops. whenever and wherever the
ofhcers allow It Az Colonel Dunn,
military attache ct the American en-.
bassy. remarked after Z short visit
20 the Italian front. these encamp.
ments behind the firing line are moro
like . picnic party than soldiers on
. battle 'front.'"
Every contingent has it, quota Of
guitar. mouthorgan and mandolin
players. and night concerts follow
each other on every side until tho
Last Post" IL sounded ana the rsxi.
ment retires under canvas. But even
then after the patrol has disappeared
toward the farthest end Of the camn.
. tender and touching melody steais
through the air. lulling the nearby
fsstless to sleep.
AZ to the relations existing between
the ofncers and the men IN the rsnks
they form. in the opinion Of Capt.fn
Aayshf. member Of the Japenloe- m.
stary mission. q striking feature Of ~
war. Italian military Discipline "a
strict. but not harsh. II Il m.,n.
tanned BY kindness and justice rather
than by fear. 80 I. $3.50
First. the olncers invariably tr...
taeir men ~ they deserve n ~
treated; kindly, humanely. Horsov..
.. q % ~ = : '