Imperial Valley press., 1915-09-23

to sleep or sit upon, and often the
dirt walls are hung with blankets.
Wooden doors are made when possible,
or else heavy blanket is hung across
the opening. The men on duty out
side stand on raised wooden platforms
to keep their feet from freezing.
By II. J. Phillips.
(Staff SpeciaD
Paris, Sept. 11.-Millions of stoves
for another terrible winter campaign!
Millions of fur-lined coats and boots
for use during months of fighting
blood-freezing cold as well as the en-
trenched enemy
Already both sides are diligently
preparing-for there is no sign of
peace. Preparing that millions of
soldiers, burrowed into the ground
like moles, may face two kinds of
death at once-bursting shells and the
more silent death by freezing.
The Germans pursuing the Russians
through the barren wastes of north
eastern Poland know that in few
weeks now dread winter will come
to the aid of the Russ hordes. That
the marvellous drive they have made
toward the heart of Russia must be
changed to a slow, arduous, terrible
winter campaign the like of which
practically wiped out Napoleon's won
derful army l03 years ago.
The far-sighted Teutons, it is un-
derstood, have 100000 fur-lined
boots ready for their troops, and some
100000 little trench stoves, the lat
ter built expressly for just such
winter campaign as the Germans now
face in Poland
The Allies also are busy. Factories
in France are busy turning out huge
orders for trench stoves, while from
England great pyramids of blankets
and warm winter clothing for the
troops are coming over in ship after
ship.
Although there is still brief res
rite before the frost will "freeze in'
, the armies stertched along the 400
mile battle front through northern
Belgium and France, the troops al
ready are busy making trenches and
dugouts cold-proof as we'll as she'll
proof.
For miles and miles along many
sections of the front the soldiers have
dug out cavelike recesses or "rooms"
Lack of the trenches proper. In some
wooden flooring has been put in, while
others will be bedded with straw and
the carthen walls hung with heavy
blankets when the cold swoops down
upon the armies.
In these "dugouts' the soldiers not
needed on duty at the loopholes of
the trenches can sit, rest and sleep in
warmth and comfort about trench
stoves.
Outside, in the trench proper, the
soldiers on guard at the loopholeS
mus, of necessity be more or less eN-
posed 10 the elements. But when win
ter cts in they will be provided with
knitted headpieces that cover all the
head and sholders. leaving practical
ly only the eyes exposed.
clad i'm huge fur or weel-llned ul-
stcrs with furlined mitts and bottS'
they will stand on the wooden plat
forms built as flooring for the
trenches. In this way they need not
come in direct contact with the frost
found earth, nor will the slow, numb
inr. deathdealing cold be able to
creep into their systems so easily.
Paris also Is busy preparing
Through the streets cars pass loaded
vith new thick. heavilypadde uni
forms for the troops. Women car
ryng hugs parcels Of thick trousers
and rloaks hasten to the delivery de
p9ts
Daily hlg ships bring in cargoes OF
cotton and wool which are lacking IN
France HoW.
Tho commissary departments also
are preparing Huge stores OF pre-
rsred foods are being forwarded to
'the supply dcpots near the fighting
front.
There are great supplies of cakes
and cubes Of concentrated foods meats
I'D vegetables. made up with ground