The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-04-02
Italians at War in Macedonia
Have Best Organized Army There;
Equipment Is of Highest Class

uAkuN1s IVY NciN blfCh va WIN
which to grease their feet thoroly.
and they did not use the oil because
:; was too much trouble They wore
wet stockings for days At a time
because II vas difficult to dry the
extra pair. Consequently trench
foot
Now the officers watch the men
grease their feet and dry their
socks. No more trench foot"
A trench in a winter night II
about the most uncomfortable place
IN earth. When IL isn't showing IL
Is raining or the wind Is blowing
The chill and the monOtony get on
the nerves. II occurred TO General
Pettiti. in command OF the forces
here. that hot food not only has a
physical value, but that II bucks up
the eater immensely. So that food
Is carried out to the trenches in In
sulated boxes every night They
look something like the firslsss
cookers that careful housewives use
at home. No cold meat and beans
In the front line. as Is the case else
where sometimes. The Italian sits
down TO a steaming stew and his
moral and bodily temperature rises
correspondisgly.
Hot Food In Froat Trenches.
But he may not want 10 eat bis
entire ration when the bearers
come" was my hypercritical sugges-
ton. IF he only had some way OF
warming up his food 30
Open fires are impossible In the
front trenches. OF course, and on
the Macedonian front the trenches
are TOO shallow TO permit tho use
o. stoves. But all that hal been
provided against The men have
Einail pannikins which may be heat.
cd by solidified alcohol IL the
trenches where flame would not pre-.
sent too great a temptation to the
Enemy scraps OF paraffined paper
are served out A handful oL~these
scraps and a match mean a tin
plate OF warmed up gouIAsh Foul
o'clock in The morning courage be
comes feasible
And bot coffee" said the officer
with me, and hot rum punch"
The cook oOrvees were on theii
way to the trenches. for night wa,
falling and the Bulgarian eyes wer,
Gimmed by the dusk. During IN,
day II is impossible for the FOO
bearers to reach ,he front lin,
trenches. Some Of them carried IA,
fireless cookers and others wer.
laden with knapsaeks which were al
pockets. In each pocket was a sorr
Of huge thermos bottle Tn Bull
sarians like TO open a bombardmenl
Just az the break OF day. Steaminc
coffee and biting hot punch aid tho
bombarded TO light philosophy.
The clothing Of the Italian TROOPS
Ia more than good. too. The Alpin,
experiences OF the past two wears
have aided In tho selection OF 2
wardrobe which Is warm but not
burdensome. Only the Gerna1z
have worn Wristlets and knee boots
heretofore. but the Italians find
| them a great value. A wide vcolen
band Il furnished IN wrap about the
middle and a thick wooden chest
| and back protector IL added on the
coolest nights Tho other items Of
the winter uniform are practically
those OF the other armies. Sleep
ing bags are furnished for the men
in the trenches, well lined with q
thick sheepskin. There are a dozea
varieties Of stoves for use in The
dugouts and shelters.
we like our own food" said a
commissary officer. almost apologei
ically. "a he showed the items OF
each mans daily ration.
italian Food for italians.
Every bite the Italian eats on thi,
front. with the exception OF To,
meat. comes from Italy. The mea'
ls British. Australian. OF American
Gorganzola and Parmesan and Gao
cio Cavailo cheese are Injuries "
America. Only the man VINO dine,
well has them habitually TIE o.
allan private gets fifty grams o
enc OF his home cheeses eaeE DAY
and washes II down with a c7nteer
Of hts own wine In the morning D.,
has hot coffee, a. II o'clock SOUP
rich with meat. or real stew. hi'
ration OF cheese. AMI three time
q week fiKs or other dried fruit A