Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-07
ON THE ITALIAN FRONT
"a DIFFERENT WAR"
LETTERS FROM MEADE DETWEILER JR..
AMBULANCE DRIVER, TO HIS MOTHER

going over. We had no chains, con-
sequently it was plain He'll for all
the cars, and when we did arrive
they kept us waiting two hours.
We had the ride back, which was
just as hard, and at $50 A. M. ar
rived at the hospital for orders.
They said come back at A. M.
and get 90 more patients to be taken
16 kilometers to a railroad station"
| We did not go to bed but had a
cup of coffee at the house and at
returned to the hospital again.
Tries to Thaw Out
Cold and wet clothes meant moth
ing and it was 1880 p. Nj. until
arrived back here where | sat be-
side a small fire trying to get "thaw
ed out" We had a light luncheon,
for as yet we have not gotten a
stove large enough to do the cook
ing. That is just a beginning of
the work we have to do and next
week we start on the mountain work
and that will be even worse.
December 10.
To-day is the first sunny day we
have had since our arrival and the
| mountains are all in view and look
wonderful. About 10 o'clock the
aeroplanes started to go up and
many of the Italian planes started
across the lines. We could see them
spiraling upwards and when they
got so high that we could just about
| see them, they started over the
mountains. Artillery duels were in
progress all day and the noise was
one continuous roar. We could see
| large shells bursting on the top of
the one mountain and each time one
landed it threw the snow and dirt
many feet in the air.
Troops were passing on the road
all day to-day apd all seemed to
! be in good spirits. 1t is wonderful
| the way these Italians can carry
| the large amount of equipm ent they
do-for ! noticed one machine gun
pass, and the men carried the guns
on their backs to say nothing of
the heavy plate protector that goes
on the gun. | cannot say that the
Italian men have as good discipline
as the French troops, yet they ac-
complish just as much.
| Work in Mountains
! Two of our cars were sent up the
mountains last night on a trial trip
and their success depended upon our
| future mountain work. They start
ed at $50, and with guide showing
| the road, made the climb which was
/ IA kilometers and very steep. The
| road is very narrow and covered
with ice and snow, so that on some
stretches only one line of cars can
| pass along at a. time. Our cars
made it, but the climb was terrible
and the road congested. to such a
degree that in some places the ma
| chimes were compelled to wait two
hours, for convoy of machines to
| pass down. We are now going to
run a post on the top of the noun"
tain.
| We are now all anxiously await
| ing for a machine to arrive from
M, which is bringing our Christ
| mas packages. We left this one
car there on account of needed re-
pairs and it is expected at any time.
How good a few things from the
old United States would taste Just
now. We can only get very few
things to eat and you can guess the
principal vegetable fruit or meat)
| just what you choose to call it
| (macaronD. We are allowed the
ration issued the officers, but find
! it not sufficient, so purchase what
| vegetables and meat we can find.
| / see from the newspapers, and
| your letters, that you all in the
States are economizing to a great
extent, and / think it a good plan,
for if you could but see some of
| the poorer class in this country,
you would be willing to make a
sacrifice to help them.
Trenches and Wires
1t was interesting to see the re-
serve trenches and bob-wiring con-
structed for miles behind the lines,
which will be used if any nnfore-
seen thing should happen. They
sure seem to believe in prepared
ness over here and it can be no.
| tced in more than one place.
wish l might tell you of the many
things / have seen behind the lines
| here for | know it would be inter
esting to you, but / know it would
| not pass the censor. We are now
all sitting in the one heated room.
I have a sandle sitting on the end
of a chair and feel quite comfor-
table, but it will not be long until
we hear "the planes are overhead" ="
Then our group will break up until
they go back after, bombing the
town just across the way. We can
expect Boche raids any clear night
and although it is below freezing
point they come and go just the
same. Please turn to Revelation.
thirteenth chapter and read. 1t
predicts this state of affairs will
end in February We have long
discussions on that point and it is
amusing to hear the many views
| We have some great arguments. but
when you see the condition of af-
! fairs on this side it is enough to
prove that we will have many more
months of war.
It's pretty lonesome out here and
| even worse than in France. Our
mail is very irregular, and we can
not get newspapers or magazines
and cannot talk to the people ex-
cept through our interpreter. as
very little French is spoken in this
section. Then, too, to add to this de-
plorable situation over here, is the
| food question. I see by 1.-THE Har-
risburg Telegraph" which reaches
me in punches, you all are doine
your part in my home town" tC
help win the war. Conserve wher-
ever possible-substitute anything
for it--but do impress upon the
people the absolute need of bread
foodstuff to feed the men who are
on this side and to help the starv-
ing people who tried so hard to de.
| fend their homes-and loved ones
! The conditions here in Italy that YOU
read about in the papers are nc
exaggerations. The Americans are
/ 1,oro - xrr;,, on5 Mill fI..,A