The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-05
RETURN ID CAVE AS
 A DWELLING PLACE
Hundreds of Thousands Liv- ing Below Surface of Earth
LIFE IS AGREEABLE
Hospitals, Clubs, Restaurants and Homes Constructed Under Ground in Galicia--GraphicP Picture of
 Life by German Officer

Berlin, December 21.-tCorrespondenc of the Associated Press )zNot since the Pleistocene 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 fir- ing line, who burrow for shelter from the enemy's fire and the weather's in- c1emency this winter. Vast underground cities have been built.
 In Galicia the Associated Press corre- spondent saw a hill which had five tiers of caves. in rows of 10 each. The en- tire establishment sheltered 25oo men.
 And life in the earth dwellings is agree able. 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 usually safe
 So agreeably is life in the cave. in fact, that the little humor contained in letters from soldiers at the front is near ly always connected with it.
 Underground Villas
 nave been in this bombproof dugout Tor 10 days says the letter of a Ger man army surgeon. Toward the front not house or barn is standing There IS not place in which we might stable our horses and since our ambulances would be fine targetVfor the enemys artillery. we have established our first aid station in a roomy cave, about 12o feet from tho firing line. Two passages. 1 cut deep In the earth, give access to the NfSf fAh six wounded in addition to several per- sons of the sanitary service. Close to our cave lies the underground villas of the surgeons and the battalion commander 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 traf- ffc, and recommended to people suf- fering from nerves, ennui. super-culture and siclSly aesthetics. 1t is also an ex- cellent cure for alcoholism. A 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 wriggle through the nar- row 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 GO square feet.
 MOles Much Interested
 "A homemade table and two rough benches are the furniture of the restau- rant. On the table stand two candles in artistic holders fashioned from beets. The walls are covered with 'expensive' hang ings and the ceiling has an od-fas toned wainscoating, both outbreaks of lux ury 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. I will say that these crea- lures are greatly interested in the splen- dor we have established in their midst"
 The letter then mentions the closets in the cave restaurant in which the sup piles are kept; refers to the carpet of straw on the floor, and speaks of a "kelim' (oriental rug) hanging which separates the restaurant from the cor ridor.
 In another letter from the front, a cap- tain. who is laconic and terse. says of cave life: e#a
 We are as wet as young dogs, as dirty as swine; hairy as monkeys, and keep singing with the enemy 320 feet away. We live in caves which are now and then destroyed by shells of the en- emy. 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 stair ashioned write by light of candles upon which we do the cooking at the same time. We are now our own antedeluvian ancestors and gladly anticipate bayonet attack for the relief 1t gives us through a change of air. Make n speciality of fight ing English, Belgians, French, Indians and what not. Have earned the iron cross and live for king and fatherland."