The Portland daily press., 1898-04-14
MAINE AND THE WAR.
What the National Guardsmen Must
Carry with Them.

Carry with Them.
The Ontfit of the Soldier When He Takes
the FieId-The University of Main
Boys Ready for the Defencs of the
Coast-Owners of Golfers Have
Visions of Spanish Cruisers.
AdJutant General Richards and his
corps. are still very busy with their prepar
alton for trouble General E. E. New
comb and Captain G. G. Morton were
18th him, Tuesday, and all their discus
sions were carried on in secret, in the
general S private office.
General Richards stated that the com
panies throughout the state were being
recruited very fast, and that he had heard
of several where they had reached the
maximum. He received n telegram from
Company l., at Houlton, Monday, stat
ing that within four hours from the time
of receiving the orders for recruiting the
ranks were filled.
So far as known, K of Calais, L OF
Houlton, and NJ OF Machias, are recruited
to their limit.
"What are the articles with which the
private soldier is equipped, when ready
for marching2 was question asked
General Richards.
"It depends upon how long service he
has had" jocularly remarked the gem
eral, who has seen the real service, and
knows the ms and outs of the life. "He
will have much more at the start than ne
will have little later. At the start, be-
side the regular prescribed artic es, ne
will also have photographs, small book
or two, and some little things that MS
mother or sweetheart will insist that he
needs, but after few days of travelllng
he discards what he doesn't really neeo.
The regular equipment of the private
soldier of the National Guard, is lalo
down in the new book of regulations tha5
is now in the hands of the PRIMER, nay
General Newcomb, Captain Morton ana
others, as advisors.
1t says that private in active service
is either in heavy or light marcnlng
order The man is in heavy order. where
the following articles, or such OF them
as are issued by the state, are carried on
the person: Campaign hat, or forage
CAD, ClOuS6t lCSSSiA9 DAOS'o3 AAiOj
bayonet, bayonet scabbard, tieldbelt or
leather belt and cartridge box, cartridges,
intrenching tools. knapsack. or hlan ket-
roll, overcoat, shelter half, poles and pins,
haversack, canteen, together with the
full complement of articles for the KNAPP
sack or blanket roll. and the kaversack.
The former contains one oversh1rt, one
undershirt, one pair drawers, two pairs
socks, one blanket, one towel, one piece
soap, and one pair shoes. The overcoat is
rolled in the shelter half, and strapped
horizontally on the top of the knapsack.
When the blanket roll is substituted for
the knapsack, the articles mentioned as
being in or upon the knapsack except the
shoes, should be rolled in the blanket.
The shoes are tied at the ends.
The haversack contains rations. meat
can, knife, fork and spoon. Hanging
from the strap is tin cup. The haver-
sack strap rests upon the right shoulder.
The meat can is used to keep the meat
from becoming soiled, and when necessity
arises as an Individual cooking apparatus.
Taken apart il can be used as two plates,
one of which has a handle. 1t is an in.
genious device, and when closed can be
hung from the belt.
When the blanket roll or knapsack. is
carried otherwise than on the person, the
troops are said to be in light marching
order.
The officers equipment is somewhat
different, in the fact that it contains a
greater variety Of articles.
--The equipment of troop is almost equal
to that of wrecking train, containing
almost every kind of an implement
The very thought of Juggling the ordin-
aiy equipment Of the soldier in heavy
marching order, is enough to spoil part
Of the patriotism of the average man, I'M
less he is used to hard work.