South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-29
The French and Italian Armies at Play
BY WOODS HUTCHINSON. NJ. d.

NJ. ID.
hre) and a well known essayist and
critic.
Even the rank and file of the
French army are for the most part
surprisingly well read and well in
formed on most of the subjects Of
the day. And they can weave the
most beautiful and animated and
eloquent evenings conversation out
of a mere handful of modest facts,
which would scarce have provided
material for a dozen responsive
grunts between phlegmatic and uni
imaginative Anglo Saxons.
The French camps have excellent
official theaters and moving picture
shows and whole companies of IA
nous actors and actresses and
vaudeville stars volunteer their SER
vices to travel up and down the
lines 20 bring pleasure and relaxa-
ton into the lives of those who
have given themselves for the de-
tense Of their country.
Similar organizations and arrange
ments exist along both the English
and the Italian fronts, and one of
my most picturesque memories is an
open air theatrical performance
that 1 attended in a beautiful little
bowl among the hills just at the
foot of the Carso. where a company
of actresses and actors from Milan
presented with spirit and vigor two
charming little comedies before al
most half a division of Italian SOL
diers, over four thousand strong
The huge delighted audience of
Bersagleri in their sweeping cocks
plumes, OF infantry and artillery
men in their simmer of gray, and
of Alpini in their green Tyrolese
hats and bucks tails, was most ap-
preciated, but keenly critical as Well
One musical hall favorite had
omitted one of the sauciest verses
of her song out Of difference 10 the
dignity Of the generals of the head
quarters staff who filed up the
front rows with their stars and rib
bons. The soldiers noticed the
omission at once, and when she
came back for her encore they
shouted loudly: Sing the other
verse, Signorita, Never mind the
generals; they won't care and the
censor isn't here"'
The only other disturbance of
good order was when an impudent
Austrian airplane came looming
over the Carso and tried to break up
the show with bombs instead of the
classic cabbages and eggs: but a
couple of Italian machines promptly
shot up and chased him away be-
fore he could get near enough to do
any damage.
The reading room, letter writing
and light restaurant accommoda-
tons for the Italian soldiers are
provided by wooden halls known as
Casa del Soldat,'' THE House of
the Soldier" These are equipped
and generously supported by the
larger Italian cities-Milan. Turin,
Bologna. F1orence-and are CRATE
fully appreciated by the soldiers.
But when il comes TO entertain
ment and amusement, the Italian
soldier can take care of himself even
better than his French comrade. He
is a wonderfully cheerful, happy.
plucky. accomplishing chap, the
best of good company to himself
and TO every one else about him. I
don't mind cOnfessing that fell
completely in love with him, in my
month on the Isonzo. and formed a
very high opinion OF his intelligence,
endurance and soldierly qualities,
which 1 am proud to feel has been
justified. even after his temporary
disaster. by his splendid tenacity
and determination on the Piave. the
Brenta and Monte Grappa.
He is content with the simplest
and plainest of foods, bread, cheese,
meat stew, onions, red wine. hard
work all day and a hard couch at
night. if he can only have a couple
of hours in the sunset and the twi-
light TO stretch himself and chat
and joke. 10 strum upon his mando-
lin. 10 sing 10 its plaintive strains
or dance 70 its lively ones.
His pluck and cheerfulness, when
wounded and suffering. are simply
beyond praise. / have heard men
shot through the chest. or abdomen,
or with both legs shattered, joke
and laugh with their bearers. as
they were being lifted out OF the
ambulance 20 be carried TO the OPP
Grating table.
No army on the western front
could show finer examples OF heToisIn
and devotion I saw at the slopes
I'm