The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-02-08
NOVEL ARMY TOOLS.
UNCLE SAM WANTS NEW IN
TRENCHiNo IMPLEMENTS.
Various Sorts In Use In Foreign Coun.
tries - Frances Combination spade.
iiatchet and ssw-Rc,uit, OF Amsri-
IAN Invention.


those used In foreign armies. and yet
maintain reduction In the weight OF
their present outfit.
Tho designing Of an implement
which will DO useful to the soldier In
the formation Of hasty intrcucnments,
but which will not add materially 10
the weight OF his present paraphor.
MALTA, has long been the ambition OF
those whose duty II is 10 prescribe
changes In our military furnishings |
At the present outlook every soldier
may be furnished with light tool TO |
be not only reserved for actual cam
paigning, but which will always bo a |
convenience about the camp. TO the |
regulars and milltlamon alike. for |
chopping wood, pitching tents and the |
various other emergencies which CON
tinually present themselves, especially
at the moro unsettled posts.
An illustrated report has lately
como from Europe describing the en-.
trcnching implements used In tho
leading armies Of the Old World. says
the Philadelphia Times. This shows
that the United States ~ rs yot far
behind In respect to these convcn-
fences, but We have the consolation
that Uncle Sam Is never too hasty In
his military movements, prciorrlng
usually 90 wait until his noighbors
havc completed their experiments In
order that no may create something
superior, as was the case with tho
new rifle.
Tho French infantry has an instru-
mcnt which may bo used oithor as a
spade. hatchct or q saw. This Is
paddlc.shapcd. measuring twenty
inches In length and Weighing only
one and ono-third pounds. One side
OF tho blade Of the spade IA ground TO
sharp odgc and the other Is filed into
saw teeth. The metal Is thick enough
bodily for chopping tho heavy trunks
OF trees. Each French infantry com
pany carries thirty-two OF these spades
besides eight picks, three hatchots,
four miners picks and u iointcd saw,
tho Alpino soldiers also being fur
nished with blll-hooks which re.
scmblo butchers cloayors hooked
slightly at tho end and used
for chopplng small branches. The
} picks and hatchcts are similar In style
10 those used by our laborers, al
though the heavier OF them weigh hui
n little over n pound and half. These
utensils aro supplied with leather
I cases and are strapped TO the KNAPP
, snolSs Of tho soldiers 10 whose lot 4
I falls 10 carry thom. Each OF the six
/ teen squads comprising French com
pany Is furnished two spades and eth
or a miners pick. n Ratchet or
! jolntod saw, carried by tho mon In
|. turn. The iointed saw when unfoldod
Is over four feet long, and instead o.
| having handles Is made with a ring a.
! oithor end and through which a stick
5 OF wood may DO passed. This re
I places the long. cumbersome cross-sav
j used for cutting hoavy pieces OF tim
y bor preforrcd In tho manufacture o
!, Notifications Tho French propose 4
make their intrenching tools ever
lighter by the use OF hollow aluminium
l. for handles instead OF wood.
n Tho English have adopted two very
Il novel combinations, ono In the foru
Q of shovel and pick and the othor o
q q pick and Ratchet. In the forrno
2 tho pick ia supplied by tho T-shape'
: handle, the whole measuring only tw'
4 feet In length and weighing less thai
r three pounds. These arc carried II
Q skeleton leather cases at the waists o
d the men, with their handles upper
N most that they may not Interfere Wit
u tho marching. They arc carried al
8 ternately by half OF the mon.
:, Although this report furnishes In
a. teresting study for those who arc dc
is signing improvements here II now
is ever, suggests but fow points whic
l. have not already been conceived b
II tho inventive brain OF tho American
1t while Il shows by comparison tina
az that organ has run In deeper channel
* than any OF foreign growth. Most {
~ tho instruments submitted 70 tho ORD
nv nance bureau have been invented b
n some Of our army officers, who we
70 understand their uses. Before bein
IN considered by the bureau thoy al
sent out into the field for praotic'
IN tost TO be reported by the soldiers WI
~ actually use them.
g. Ono OF tho staf officers OF tho WI
department has submitted a combin
tlon spade. hatchet, similar TO that
the French, without tho saving a
nh tachmont. Another design is In y
," shape OF piclS-axo whose blade fol-
over, forming a spade. A combin
i'm ton canteen and spade is also amor
Ter the numerous inventions sent in 4
re- trial. These are all found TO ha
their virtues, and most OF thom mi
DO altered TO overcome certain poin
RS OF weakness, 80 that when the tin
comes for a final decision the ordnan
officers will have an excellent collie
=, ton from which TO select. The fol
tr. ing implements arc strictly America
OF there being none in foreign use, b
md tho chief objection 10 these Is III
~ ~ they aro too readily clogged with sa
BY or dirt, which fault would greatly Il
podo rapid work
I, The great utility OF such contrl
- ancos can best be appreciated by tho
who remember how much time "
wasted In the war when great bod
Of men had 10 bs marched hundre