The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-27 00:00:00

THE SOLDIER'S KNAPSACK.

The third report of the War-office Committee appointed
some three years ago to investigate the effect of the present
system of equipment on the health of the infantry soldier has
just been presented. We congratulate General Eyre, the
president of the committee, on the successful termination of
his labours. It may be remembered that we gave, last year,
an account of the plan proposed by the committee, and stated
that it was about to be tested at Aldershot. The report
before us contains the result of the trials at that station,
and at Portsmouth, Colchester, Parkhurst, Chatham,
Woolwich, and Dublin. The opinion expressed of the
equipment is most favourable, and it is clear that the
objects aimed at by the committee have been attained.
Pressure on the lungs and heart has been entirely obviated,
and the weights press on no parts which can be injured.
The plan tried in the summer has been altered in various
details, in accordance with suggestions made, the com-
mittee state, " by all ranks in the army." We are informed
that the private soldiers took immense interest in the
trials, which was indeed only natural, considering how
much their comfort depended on the result. The equip-
ment, as now perfected, is extremely simple ; so much so,
indeed, that it seems wonderful it was not sooner adopted.
The old framed knapsack is entirely discarded, and a soft
valise is substituted. The weights are distributed round the
body, and are brought low down, with a view of gaining the
great mechanical advantage of keeping the centre of gravity
of the body as near as can be in the position in which it is
in the unweighted person, and of allowing the free action
of the chest and of the great muscles of the shoulders. The
sacrum and the tops of the scapulae, which are the two
strongest parts of the body, bear the chief weights ; and
advantage is taken of the principle of balance. The
equipment is most easily adjusted, and is put on and
off in a moment. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge has been very anxious to secure a good equip-
ment, and has now ordered a thousand sets to be
made, with the view of equipping two companies in five
different regiments. In two or three months, perhaps, it
will be seen if any further alterations in detail are re-
quired ; and if not, the equipment will probably be brought
into general use as soon as possible. As the soldier must
carry some weights, he will still move at a disadvantage
as compared with an unencumbered pedestrian, but this
disadvantage is far less than it was with the old system ;
and we may reasonably hope that all risk of injury to the
heart and lungs from the pressure of faulty accoutrements
has now been removed.—The Lancet.

The Queen and the .Loyal Family came up to
Buckingham Palace on Monday. It may be interesting
to our lady readers to know that on the day when her
Majesty leaves Windsor there is an exodus of two hun•
dred persons from the precincts of the Castle, and that the
servants are all placed upon " board wages," just as is
done in ordinary gentlemen's families.

ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM.—The inland revenue,
to the officers of which department has been delegated
the duty of collecting the new dog tax, have received pay-
ment on no less than 400,000 dogs mile than the old paro-
chial collectors. This success is a first step in the direc-
tion of committing the general collection of taxation to
the officers of the Crown instead of the nominees of the
parish.
SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE IRON TRADE. The
ireliminary meeting of the ironmasters of the Birmingham
district was held at the Hen and Chickens, in that town,
on Thursday afternoon. After a discussion which occu-
pied three hours and a half, a resolution was passed, to
reduce the price of finished iron 10s. per ton, making bars
£7 ; and that the puddlers'. wages be reduced is. per ton
(10 per cent.), and all other wages in the trade in propor-
tion, fourteen days' notice to be given to the men on
Saturday next. It is understood that the minority at the
meeting will abide by the decision arrived at.

SINGULAR ACCIDENT.—A horse, with part of a
cab, was discovered floating at the entrance of the channel
of Portsmouth Harbour, on Thursday morning. It is said
that an accident happened at Sea View, near Ryde, a few
evenings ago, by which a cab was broken in two, and the
horse, with the fore part of the vehicle attached, was
washed out to sea, after having fallen over the sea wall
of that neighbourhood into the tide. It is feared, too, that
the unfortunate driver was drowned, as nothing bas been
heard of him since the accident.

HUDDERSFIELD ELECTION. —We are informed by
a correspondent that, early on the morning of the poll,
120 of the temperance electors went in a body and re-
corded their votes in favour of Mr. Leatham, and that
afterwards thirty to forty others followed their example.
Mr. Leatham's majority was 322. Mr. Leatham, we
understand, has given up his opposition to the Permis-
sive Bill, and is now prepared to vote in favour of a rate-
Payer's veto upon the issue of all new licenses.—Alliance
News.

" OBLIGATED TO DO IT."—At West Bromwich,
John Ashley was charged with assaulting his wife, Mar-
garet Ashley. The wife's statement was to the effect that
the prisoner had beaten her very often, every day that week
until Thursday. He also beat the children. Prisoner said
he was subject to fits, and was strange in his ways. His
wife said she did not take any notice of his conduct when
he was in that state ; but when he " leathered" her and
the children at other times she was "obligated to do it."
The bench said his conduct was very improper, and sen-
tenced him to six weeks' imprisonment.