The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-26
COMFORTS FOR THE SOLDIERS.
New Announcements That Mitigate
the Hardships of Boys in Blue.

Boston Herald.
Army officers are greatly interested
in a new utilization of the shelter tent
which is carried by the soldier in the
field. At present his shelter tent is made
oE very unsatisfactory material, and
other use than as a shelter tent, and
beyond this is an incumbrance to the
soldier, adding to his burdens on the
march by about three pounds.
Capt. Edmund Rice, of the Fifth in
| fantry, stationed at Fort McPerson,
Ga, has made a suggestion which
| meets with considerable approval
among military experts. He proposes
to make of the shelter tent a cape,
which may be worn by the soldier in
| inclement weather This use of the
present tent may be readily acquired
by simple straps which will fasten the
cape about the neck and waist The
double use of the shelter tent will be
/ appreciated by the trooper, and is in
the line Of modern military equipment,
the idea being to economic in the num-
Der as in the weight Of articles carried
by the soldier and to make each arti-
Gle do as much service as possible. In
some of the services the ration can,
for instance, when separated furnishes
the cooking utensils of the soldier. The
meat ration can of the foreign army,
when taken apart, supplies a frying
pan and plate.
One of the most interesting Of for
eign military novelties lately received
at the military information division
is a device ip the same line as that Of
| Capt. Rice's cape shelter tent. 1t is
| shelter coat tent used. in the Austrian
army. Two Of these can be fastened
| together, and, with the bayonet of
| rifle as center pole, furnish a water
proof shelter for two men. The separate
Of a
material, and in that respect are much
| better than the so-called shelter tent
| material Of the United States army.
! These Austrian coats weigh two and
| one-half pounds. or six ounces less
! than our shelter tent. The coats are
| htted with sleeves and are equipped
with draw strings at neck and belt
| They are serviceable garments when
worn as a rubber coat, giving protection
| from the rain and allowing the soldier
free use Of his arms in handling his
weapon. This Austrian idea is favored
by the war department officials and
it may be that this combination article
or something akin to it will be adopted
/ for our service. 1t seems to be even
better than the idea of Capt Rice
although the officers suggestion is
more economical in that 1t contem-
plates no change in the present shape
or style Of our shelter tents.
The matter OF military equipment in
the last year has engaged the atten-
| ton of the officers of the war depart
ment, especially those interested in the
furnishing of supplies to the armed
forces. Our military attaches abroad
! have been very industrious in observ-
| ing the novelties of the European ser
vices and have been prompted to send
to the military information division in
the war department samples of the
rlc vs.1,Nrx
! these have been practically used in
our own service. Among other devices
has been an aluminium horseshoe.
! These, of course, are much lighter
than the iron horseshoes in use, and
are found to be quite as serviceabIe
! A cavalry officer stationed at San
| Carlos, Ari., kept an aluminium shoe
on his horse for forty-five days Shoes
Of this material are, Of course, expen-
sive, and the present cost is beyond
the means of the department for their
adoption for the SERVICE but it is
recommended that an aluminium
horseshoe be furnished the cavalrymen
as the extra shoe which he carries in
his sadlebag. At present this alu-
minium horseshoe costs about SO cents.
The officers have been interested
also in a new German canteen of
aluminium, of a flatter shape than our
canteen, which allows 1t to rest the
better at the side. 1t has been found
that water will keep for six months
in these aluminium canteens, while the
ordinary tin ones are quickly rusted.
The meat ration can, referred to al
ready as a combined cooking utensil
and plate, weighs less than half the
timed iron can at present in use.
Another article in use abroad is a
very light nose bag for horses. Still
another is an asbestos shield to fix in
the hole in the tent as the protection
against fire from contact with the
| Stovepipe.