Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-04
CAvE-DWELL|NG
AGAIN IN VOGUE:
Thousands of Men Driven to
Natural or Artificial Homes in
the Ground-The Soldiers Re-
port Them Better Than Life
in Open Cold and Snow.

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence
Berlin, Dec. 15-Not since the PleiS-
tocene age has cave-dwelling been so
universal a mode of life in Europe as
today. Altogether there are hundreds
of thousands of men, on and off the
firing line who burrow for shelter
from the enemy's fire and the wealth
er's inclemency this winter. Vast un-
foreground cities have been built.
In Galicia the Associated Press cor
respondent saw a hill which had five
tiers of caves, in rows of 40 each. The
entire establishment sheltered $500
men.
And life in the earth dwellings, is
agreeable, according to all accounts.
The men in their letters, at least speak
of their caves with as much feeling as
they do of home. Though snow and
rain beat down without, the wind howl,
and great guns boom, the cave is
always snug and warm, especially if
it has been possible to gather enough
straw for the floor and bed, and usual
ly safe.
So agreeable is life in the cave, in
fact, that the little humor contained in
letters from soldiers at the front is
nearly always connected with it.
Il have been in this bombproof turn
out for ten days. says the letter OF a
German army surgeon. Toward the
front not a house or barn is standing.
There is not a place in which we
might stable our horses and since cur
ambulances would be fine target for
the enemy's artillery, we have estab-
lished our first aid station in roomy
cave, about 120 feet from the firing
line Two passages, cut deep in the
earth, give access to the cave, III
which there is room for about six
wounded in addition to several per-
sons of the sanitary service. Close to
our cave lie the underground villas
Of the surgeons and the battalion COM
mander and his adjutant, also the club
which has been named The Thirsty
CaVedWeller.
THE inn is pearl of an institution,
suited alike for summer and winter
traffic, and recommended to people
suffering from nerves, ennu1, super
culture and sickly esthetlcs. 1t is also
an excellent cure for alcoholism.
physician is constantly in attendance.
Prices are reasonable, and living In
the club costs nothing except possibly
your life. The interior equipment and
decorations are charming. You Wrl3gle
through the narrow passage into the
restaurant, and then fall down two
steps, to discover afterwards that you
can stand upright in the dining room,
which has a floor area of about 60
square feet.
"A homemade table and two rough
benches are the furniture of the rest
aurant. On the table stand two can
dies in artistic holders fashioned
from beets. The walls are covered
with expensive hangings, and the
ceiling has an old-fashioned vain
scoting. both outbreaks OF luxury
having been made necessary by the
efforts of moles and worms to taste
our SOUP, drink our beer and wine
and make excursions down our backs
between skin and clothing l Will say
that these creatures are greatly IN
terested in the splendor we nave es-
tablished in their midst.
The letter then mentions the Closets
in the cave restaurant in which the
supplies are kept. refers to the car
pet of straw on the floor. and speaks
of a "Eelim" (Oriental rug hanging
which separates the restaurant from
the corridor.
In another letter from the front, a
captain who is laconic and terse, says
Of cave life:
I'VE are as wet as young dogs. dirty
as swine, hairy as monkeys. and keep
singing with the enemy 800 feet away.
we live in caves which are now and
then destroyed by shells Of the enemy.
When that happens we crawl out like
so many rabbits, and continue to live
on pigs, steers, hens, goulash and rice
we cut our hair fashioned. write
BY light Of candles upon which we DO
the cooking at the same time. we
are now our own antediluvian ances-
tors, and gladly anticipate bayonet
attack for the relief 1T gives us
through a change Of air. Make a
speciality Of fighting English. Bel
gians, French. Indians and what not.
Have earned the iron cross and live
for king and fatherland."