Page 251 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

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ActA

Group of soldiers at Canea – Dell’Adami, Streitkräfte

46
the area. The battalion consisted of 26 officers, 717 men, 68 pack animals and seven
47
horses. It departed from Trieste on 25 March and arrived at Suda Bay on 29.
The battalion was equipped for field duty. The tropical climate of Crete made it nec-
essary to tailor new types of uniforms for the Austro-Hungarian troops. They were also
given additional field blouses and sufficient supplies of shirts, underwear and boots. The
field caps had neck covers from linen or wool. As these caps proved rather ineffective,
the soldiers received white tropical helmets, which had to be bought from a private com-
48
pany, as they had not been introduced in the Austrian army so far. The soldiers were
supplied with 300 rounds per rifle and 50 rounds per revolver as well as an empty hay
sack, a pillow, four linen sheets, a winter and a summer blanket. For housing 30 tents
for 30 men each were issued. There was also a medical barrack (Döcker model) with a
medical unit (2 physicians, 1 NCO, 4 men) and the necessary medical equipment. 49
th
nd
Immediately after their arrival the 7 company of the 2 battalion formed part of the
46 For the diplomatic correspondence on this matter see HHStA, PA XII 284, Liasse XXXVIII Kretensische
Frage 1897 III, unfol.: telegrams from European courts of March 1897. See also Kriegsarchiv, MKSM 69-
3/1-2 ex 1897, and MKSM 69-3/1-3 ex 1897.
47 Dell’Adami, Die k. u. k. Streitkräfte auf und vor Kreta 1897/98, p. 76.
48 “As headgear special officer’s caps of white worsted fabric with chin straps of white leather and white
lacquered peak were manufactured and issued to the officers before leaving Trieste.” K. u. k. Land Forces
Crete 1897/98 in Glenn Jewison, Joerg C. Steiner, Austro-Hungarian Landforces 1848-1918. http://www.
austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/troopscreta.htm [27.03.2013].
49 K. u. k. Land Forces Crete 1897/98. http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/troopscreta.htm [27.03.2013].
See also Kriegsarchiv, MKSM 69-3/1-7 ex 1897; MKSM 6-1/2 ex 1897; MKSM 33-1/1-31 ex 1897; Pangerl,
Participation of the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the Crete Operation 1897-1898, p. 144.