THE CHASSEURS ALPINS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 138, 28 January 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE CHASSEURS ALPINS.

Among thr It ki< u . roginonts one ol tin' most eel I'iMUi i- t'.e Corps ol Chasseurs Alpine, v* ... tiniy it is t( guard the frontiers ;,• i mountain passos A writer m "■%!' Boy's Own Paper'' for November says: At the end of May the outposts art relieved, and the Alpins leave theii barracks in tin. garr -mi towns, ant then begin the summer manoeuvre! and reconnoitring, lasting for foui months—from Juno to October —ovei the thirteen military sections of the north-eastern sections of the north, eastern frontier of France, from the Little St Bernard in the north to the peak of Corvo, dominating the valley of the Royn, in the south. These sections are very unequal as regards area, but each gives access to the frontier. The defence of each is entrusted to a battalion of Clmusseurs, supported by a mountain battery and a detachment of engineers. It is the duty of each battalion not only to become thoroughly acquainted with every nook and eornoY of its own district, but also with the two sections on either hand. During these four months the Alpins lead the life of soldiers on aVtivo service. The men never sleep in a bed, and even the officers do not often enjoy this luxury. At night they sometimes shelter in the little tents carried by baggage-mules, but more often they find billets in the Alpine hamlets, scattered on the mountains—often up to heights of six or seven thousand feet. They are accustomed to the minimum of repose, for at dawn, and sometimes! before dawn, the reveille is sounded and a day's work of the mast arduous marching and reconnoitring over the mountains, passes, and glaciers begins. The following is a resume of what is required of mountain troops in fuU training : "They ought to be capable of marching on the mountains with full equipment, weighing 501 bs., for ten hours, inclusive of eight in the snow up to their knees, and making an ascent of about seven thousand feet. One halt of two hours is allowed. After accomplishing such a march without any sign of weakness, they ought to be quite tit for a similar task the next day.''