The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1895-03-15
THE SOLDIERS KNAPsAck.
What 1t Must Carry and How 1t Should
BE Packed.

What 1t Must Carry and How 1t Should
Be Packed.
In the matter of the knapsack, its av-
erage weight and in the obligation to I
carry it, the American soldier Of today
has decidedly the advantage over his
European brother in arms. The latter
never thinks Of throwing away his
pack, no matter what Its weight or the
length of the march. To do SO means
punishment, sudden and severe. The
former fires it bodily away the moment
he feels that he has carried it far
enough, preferring any punishment to
making pack mule out of himself
Nevertheless the knapsack is very nee.
essary article of the soldier equipment!
and great deal Of time, experiment
and thought have been given to the per-
lection of pack that will carry every:
thing necessary and yet be, when pack
ca, Of the minimum weight and size:
The knapsack as at present in use in
the service is simply waterproof con-
vas bag, supposed to contain when pack
Ci tIO DldlIhtb, OilC COLlDlcGo Cudlkb VI
undorclothing, two pairs of stockings,
one pair Of shoes, towel, soap, backing
kit and comb.
To pack these articles properly the
blanket is folded Icnsthwise so as to be
II inches wide. Roll tightly, leaving
Is inches unrolled. and p,fce in the
bag until tho roll is tight against the
bottom. Then fold the unrolle part I'M
til the fold is even with the 6pening of
the bag. The drawers. folded the same
width as the blanket, is placed next.
aftet which comes the undershirt. The
shoes are then placed, heels upand soles
out, between the folded blanket and the
side Of the bag, one on each side. Be!
tween the drawers and the undcrshirt
two pairs Of stockings are then placed
so as to show tho double fold. The
backing kit ia then placed above the
uhdershirt AID out of sight, the toilet
articles neatly disposed in the pocket,
the flap of tho knapsack turned down
and buttoncd, end the pack is complete.
There now remains the overcoat, which
when rolled is fastened by straps on the
top Of the pack.
To secure uniformity the following
method Of rolling tho coat has been
adopted by the war department: Turn
the left sleeve inside ont; fold the coat
down tho miGdla seam of the back, right
side out, front edges to tie left, and lay
1t fatty ard smoothly on the ground,
tail away from the feet; pull tho cape
out from under the coat and spread 1t
double; turn both tails of coat up abont
eight inches, the upper one over and the
lower one under; fold the skirts in
from both sides until they just meet in
the center, which will make the roll
just the width of the knapsack. Then
fold the cape same width as the coat, 4
and beginning with the cape roll up
very tightly and as even as possible
the tighter the better-being careful to-.
keep the folded edges well caught
When rolled clear up, turn the exposed
tail back over the roll, taking care not
to loosen the ends, and the roll will be
securely bound /;
The shelter tent half, neatly folded
so as to show the company, regiment
and number, will then be rolled around
the overcoat roll SO as just to show the
edges, and the four shelter tent pins
placed between its folds SO as to show
one inch of tho points projecting.
Now place the roll on the knapsack
with the tail If the coat, as rolled, to
the rear and the raw edge or hem Just
above the edge of the knapsack, this
Arrange ment giving the best water and
dust shed. The buckle of the overcoat
strap to be on top Of the roll, the end of
the strap, ii OF any length, to be rolled
mp. The shelter tent poles, of which
each man carries two halves, are carried
under the Zap Of tie knapsack so as to-
throw tho roll away from the back of
the head aud TINS permit freer use of tho
arms.
The weight Of the knapsack thus
packed and arranged shon,d not exceed
"a pounds, :. good load in itself for
man to curry throughout daily march