WAR AND THE WEATHER 6n 



customed to severe cold than are the men from the west and south of 

 Europe, and will probably prosecute the war with little diminution of 

 energy. The Germans have evidently been preparing for the winter 

 fighting in Poland, for the troops which went to the front early in Oc- 

 tober were equipped with fur gloves and sheepskin coats. 



In the French and Belgian war zone the September rains are noted 

 as having brought lower temperatures, "with a distinct feeling of au- 

 tumn in the air, especially in the early mornings." This warning chill, 

 with cold winds, seemed to arouse all the commanders to a sudden real- 

 ization of the unpreparedness of their troops for a winter campaign. 

 The terrors of the winter suddenly loomed up on the horizon of warring 

 Europe. Living outdoors and in trenches is bad enough when the 

 weather is favorable, but the sufferings of the men, especially of the 

 sick and wounded, when the weather is cold are immeasurably greater. 

 The lowered vitality of the wounded leads to many deaths from the 

 cold, even if none of the men are actually frozen to death, as has so often 

 happened in previous winter campaigns in Europe. On all sides we 

 hear of preparations for winter. The German Crown Prince, some 

 weeks ago, telegraphed to the Emperor for winter socks and under- 

 clothing for his men. Germany has ordered sheepskin clothing from 

 Rotterdam; fur coats to the number of 150,000, presumably for the use 

 of German officers, have already been delivered, and 2,000,000 sheep and 

 lambskins have been bought for the use of the men. People ordinarily 

 employed in glove-making are now engaged in providing the troops with 

 clothing made from the skins usually taken for gloves. For the Ger- 

 man cavalry, special leather leg protectors are being made. The French 

 minister of war some time ago sent a circular to all the prefects, re- 

 questing them to obtain as rapidly as possible supplies of woolen under- 

 clothes, socks, gloves and blankets for the use of the French soldiers 

 during the winter. England has made special provision for her Indian 

 troops in the way of mufflers and warm underwear; has commandeered 

 large quantities of woolen goods, and is importing from this country at 

 the present time immense numbers of rubber boots and cardigan jack- 

 ets. The difficulty of digging trenches, and of living in them, is greatly 

 increased when the weather is wet and cold. Under date of October 16, 

 we read that the allied troops are protecting themselves in the trenches 

 with blankets and waterproof sheets, and are guarding against the cold 

 by wearing " sheets of parchment " under their uniforms. Dug-outs 

 are being cut under the sides of the trenches for the men to sleep and 

 take shelter in. These refuges are raised somewhat above the bottom of 

 the trenches, so that they are dry in wet weather. Some of the trenches 

 are now provided with cover overhead, for protection against the 

 weather as well as against the shrapnel fire. In the last week of Oc- 

 tober snow fell in the Vosges, in considerable amounts, and also at sev- 



