The Portland daily press., 1896-06-11


pro vided to prevent the soldiers hand
from coming in contact with the heated
barrel.
The volume is interestingly concluded
by chapter on equipment and the use
or aluminium. Much Of the information
thus conveyed comes direct from our
military attaches abroad, and will be or
especial value to the National Guards
men,. Army equipment officers are con-
stantly striving to tighten the soldiers
burden, and at the same time to make
his lie in the camp and ON the march
more comfortable
The barracks and stables OF European
services are described. The former are
found not SO oommodious as those of our
service, and the latter moresscrupulously
neat; IN fact, the writer says: Certain
ly in the matter of neat, attraoti ve-look-
ing stables. the English. Germans and
Austrlans can teach our stable Sergeants
valuable lessons''
The English, Belgians, French, Ger
mans, Austrians and Italians all Garry
larger looking utensils than our meat
least IN the English and Belgian SER
vices. is smaller than that carried by the
infantry. but still large enough for use
III making stew, while the infantry
mess tin is quits large enough for use in
making soup. The cover IN most cases is
furnished with a handle, SO that it may
be used as frying pan, as with US.
Lhe canteen has varied shapes in Euro
pean services. The most unique is that
of the French Army, the vessel being
divided into two compartments, one for
water and the other for wine The ItaI-
lans use small wooden canteen, some
thing llks small keg with elliptical
ends. The Germans are ahead of us all,
having light aluminium canteen, spun
without joint or seam, and holding about
nino-tenths of a quart. These are made
OF pure aluminium, victoria alloys, or,
still better, of Wolfram aluminium, one
OF the stitfest alloys yet discovered. Its
shape, like flask. recommends itself
quits as much as the material from
which it is made. The concave side be-
Ing next 10 the body the canteen osoil-
lates less from side to side than does our
own.
In foreign services, where the revolver
is used at all, it is carried almost in
yar,ably by the officers, non commits
stoned officers, and trumpeters only. AT
WoolWich, it WAS noticed that the cadets
W ere practicing at firing at moving tar
gets and using the revolver with either
hand. The English and Belglans, in
stead Of throwing away half-worn horse
shoes, as, we do, make the shoes over,
and claim that shoes SO made over are
rather more durable than new Shoes
They have regimental shops for shoeing
and farriers are required to make half
their own shoes. Part of the shosing is
done without heating the shoes-this to
acoustom the farriers to properly prepare
the horse's feet to receive shoes previous
Quired in the field.
An interesting method of crossing
streams has been devised by using infiat-
ed swimming sacks Or balloons. This
device consists Of two inflated balloons
fastened to man and horse by means of a
breast belt, and the experiments held at
Visnna have proved satisfactory
In bedding the rule seems to be iron
bedsteads, with no springs, and bedsacks
stuffed with straw. in one of the Grade
regiments, in Berlin, which was visited,
1t was stated that the squad rooms wore
visited by the officers but once week.
The usual bill of fare in this regiment
was stated to be about az follows not
very attractive to our soldiers, and rather
meagre for even the poorest of American
boarding houses:
BTeakfast-Bread and coffee.
Dinner-Bread and coffee, with meat
and peas.
Supper-Bread and coffee, with the ad-
d1tion of meat on Tuesdays and Thurs
days.
If the soldier desired more he was OBJ
Six months is considered abroad not
too long time for training remount
horses. Horses abroad are groomed bet
ter than ours, particularly after exercise
Although the GOLD was not at all exces-
sive horses were found blanketed in war
stables.
Aluminium has come to play an i'm
portanU part in the equipment of the
European soldier. In the German and
French armies its value in the manufso-
ture of certain articles of military equip
me1t seems to be thoroughly appreciated.
1t is reported that in the German army
two corps are provided to greater Or less
extent with aluminium equipments, and
there are no less than 1876, COO aluminium
oanteens or water bottles, 60 600 cook
ing utensils for the individual soldier,
and go 900 sets of mounrings for shelter
tent poles in use. In Belgium Alumni
UNI canteens and cooking utensils are
being experimental with. In England
LOCO aluminium utensils have been or
dered for trial. Alloys of aluminium
from their hardness and rigidity are bet
ter adapted for most articles of equip
ment than the pure metal; it seems also
strated that an alloy which is we'll adapt
ed for one article Of equipment may be
entirely unsuitable for another, and the
particular alloy adapted in each instance
can only be properly determined by care
full experiment.. Fortunately, the alloys
are but little more expensive than the
pure metal and but little heavier.
A recent invention in aluminium al.
Toys is wolframinium, discovered by
William Berg, German contractor of
military equipments, who
also invented the victoria alloy. The
new composition is secret of the trade.
It is said to be stronger than the victoria
alloy and double the strength of pure
OF the three articles-meat can, canteen
and oup-it is believed that a pound In
the weight carried by the soldier can be
saved by making them Of aluminium.
Articles which seem to be viewed with
favor in foreign countries are aluminium
horseshoes, hobnails, and heel plates for
shoes, drum Shells castings for range
finders, spurs, stirrups, and parts of linn
bers.
1t is to be regretted that the edition of
the latest document from the military In
formation bureau is confined to 1000
copies. This mum her is Insufficient to
place the publication in the hands of all
army officers, and renders 1t inaccessible
to post libraries and individuals in and
out of che service who would appreci
ate these notes as work of referanoe.