Evening star., 1915-05-13
Real Meaning of Forts.

Then only the real meaning of those
grim Notifications which face each
other in long rows across Alpine val
leys came home to us: then only We
sensed the bitter reality Of the SOL
diers calling-we, to whom the horrors
of war We're happily all unknown.
Forts until then fthe outbreak Of
Europe's war; had been unconsidered
save as they interfered with picture
making: the soldiers life had appeared
solely from its picturesque side.
.One might think that the great chain
of the Alps would themselves be sufh-
cient fortification. natural bulwark
between north and south, between Sax
on and Latin. But the pine has ever
yearned for the palm. the palm for the
pine: invaders there have been from
either side. so today line of forts
highways like cat-teasers upon stone
WALL
Forts along the Swiss-Italo frontier
are inconspicuous, the writer continues,
though it is possible that Italy main
tains as proportionately strong de-
fenses here as upon her Austrian or
French frontiers. However, she makes
less fuss about her Swiss line of de-
Efense- France. the writer says, is a
little more modest: for she requests the
kodaker not to trespass upon certain
territory nor photograph in certain di-
rections. But there Is far more earn
estness on the Austro-Italian frontier
I'm Austria, Make no excuse, for
worldly in four languages, lines the
road for mile on either side of forti-
hcations or frontier. One may not only
not sketch or photograph in that direc-
ton but is forbidden to do so in any
other direction from that vicinity.
Ordered to Move On.
Before two thoughts have been as
sembled. a soldier appears out of no.
admonishes the lingerer to move on.
peremptory the notices, have never
fheless photographed more than once
In the shadow OF fort with no more
rebuke than mischievous threat from
the finger of an observant officer: yet
= friend who merely fingered for a
moment to study the geological con-
formation mas. Pieve di LivinalIonga
was passed literally from hand to hand
by soldiers until he was safely away
from the frontier
Mrs. Albrecht tells Of the wonderful
eficient soldiers of Austrian Tyrol. the
kaiserjaEer Gmperial hunters), OF
whom many notices have come from
the Carpathians and from Bosnia,
where Montenegrins. most famed
among mountain fighters. met their
mafcn IN lyrolese halserJaSAT- VI
these corpsmen, Mrs. Albrecht says:
Recruited solely in Tyrol, accus-
TONED to its high attitudes and its
steep mountain sides from babyhood.
hunters by birth, they need little drill
save in the code and manual of arms.
Tip the thickly wooded. steep mountain
sides they scramble quicker than the
sturdy. sure-footed ponies, which car
ry the light artillery they use: and, in
case OF need. many of the men can
themselves shoulder a small cannon on
a days climb. Injured TO the hardest
of beds and of fare. imbued with a
deep love of country. pious almost to
superstition and superstitious almost
to a point of uncanny fear, fond of a
rough joke and rougher dancing, sing
ing marvelously sweet and true, not
very quick-witted possibly, but swift
footed and thorough. they are an ef-
fective body Of men, both in appear
ance and service"